A "Santa Claus"-like sex offender from Lexington, Mass., has landed on the naughty list; sentenced to 15 years in prison after trying to buy a romp with a minor and getting busted for child porn stash, federal prosecutors announced. David Cannon, 61, registered sex offender with a dark past of indecent assault on a child, pleaded guilty to one count each of attempted sex trafficking of a child and possession of child pornography, admitting to his vile attempts to purchase sex with a young girl, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
In November 2022, Cannon made his intentions clear when he fell for an online trap put up by undercover agents, offering $200 for illicit activities with either a 12-year-old or a 14-year-old girl, depending on whom was available first, according to authorities and leading up to his November 2023 guilty plea, nimble digital footwork by Homeland Security Investigations ensnared him when he laid the cash on the table for what he thought would be a sexual tryst with a fictitious 14-year-old, Cannon, making a remark that the girl should brace for a "Santa Claus" look-alike, as he turned up with lube and condoms at a Boston hotel only to meet the long arm of the law.
"Individuals like Cannon drive the demand for sex trafficking of children. Those who seek to pay for sex with kids must be seriously punished so that the message resonates that there are grave consequences for engaging in such deplorable conduct,” Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy justified the harsh sentence, emphasizing their determination to crack down on both traffickers and the customers fueling this illicit trade, Cannon's sex offender status was marked by a 2019 conviction for indecent assault on an 11-year-old child, making his recent arrest shortly after his probation ended all the more egregious.
A disturbing peek into Cannon's cell phone unearthed a trove of child sexual abuse material (CSAM)—dozens of photos and videos—along with texts that confirmed his predilection for the sickening content; this digital evidence, alongside the sting operation's success, ultimately culminated in his sentencing where he was also hit with a $17,500 restitution fee, meant for the hapless victims appearing in the CSAM found in his possession, this fee serves as a harsh reminder of the real human toll behind Cannon's deplorable actions.
If you or someone you know is experiencing commercial sex trafficking, authorities urge contact with [email protected]. The case against Cannon was spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit, and announced by Levy and Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, Michael J. Krol.
