A Dartmouth man faced arraignment on Wednesday for child pornography charges after a fellow passenger on a JetBlue flight from Nashville to Boston reported witnessing disturbing content on the man's phone. Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced that Jed Cohen, 74, was charged with possessing child pornography, disseminating photographs of a child in a sexual or intimate manner, and paying for sexual conduct with a child under 18, as reported by the Suffolk District Attorney's official website.
During the flight, another passenger observed Cohen viewing photos and engaging in explicit text message conversations about young children. According to details from the District Attorney's Office, the witness noticed Cohen's behavior before takeoff, and it continued for most of the duration of the flight. The passenger took notes of the disturbing exchanges, including messaging inquiries about the age of the girls and the cost for a night with them.
The Massachusetts State Police were alerted at around 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday due to the situation onboard. Once the plane reached Logan Airport, troopers spoke with Cohen, who unlocked his phone for them. They found evidence, including photos and messages, that corroborated the witness's account. Among the disturbing finds, there was a photo of a prepubescent girl and an adult male in a sexual act, with Cohen stating, "I love her." Additional messages contained inquiries about sexual encounters with a three-year-old, as noted by the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.
In response to the incident, Hayden stated, "To call these allegations disturbing is a vast understatement. Sexual exploitation of any kind inflicts lifelong scars, and the harm increases exponentially when the victims are children," as mentioned in the same news release. He extended his thanks to the passenger who alerted the crew and the crew’s swift action in notifying the authorities. Cohen was ordered held on $10,000 bail, with conditions of home confinement and GPS monitoring if released by Judge Debra DelVecchio. His next court date is set for August 16, 2024.
It is the policy of the Suffolk County District Attorney's office to presume all charged individuals innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The office, which handles over 20,000 cases a year, provides various services and programs to the community, with a strong commitment to crime prevention and maintaining safety in Suffolk County.
