Man pleads to lesser charge in obscenity case

By MICHAEL MORTENSEN, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — A Massachusetts man will serve at least nine months in confinement after pleading guilty to reduced charges of sending obscene material to a minor.

Jacob Heal, 34, of 140 Main St., in Amesbury, Massachusetts, was sentenced to nine months in the Belknap County House Corrections facility, with three months suspended, for sending an obscene video online to a 15-year-old male in July 2016.

Heal initially faced a felony charge of endangering the welfare of a child (by soliciting sex), and three counts of misdemeanor delivering obscene material. The acts occurred when Heal was living in Meredith. The initial indictment alleged that Heal had attempted to induce the victim to send a video or photograph showing him engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Heal was allowed to plead to the lesser charges in a negotiated plea in Belknap County Superior Court on Wednesday because of "compelling circumstances that justified leniency," according to Belknap County Attorney Andrew Livernois. The prosecutor explained that Heal himself had been sexually abused as a youngster. In addition he had shown a sincere commitment to take responsibility for his actions by proactively participating in drug rehabilitation counseling and sexual offender treatment.

In addition to his time under confinement, Superior Court Justice Tina Nadeau imposed two concurrent 12-month sentences which were suspended for three years, was ordered to have no contact with his victim or his family, and that he continue participating in his treatment programs. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years, but can petition the court to be removed from the sex offender list after five years.