A Keene man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his involvement in producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Paul Baird, aged 45, received a sentence of 300 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release from U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe. In March 2025, Baird pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the production of CSAM.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack stated, "The defendant committed an appalling betrayal of trust by abusing a child in his care to produce sexually exploitative material." He added that the lengthy sentence reflects the seriousness of Baird's crimes and ensures he cannot harm other children.
Special Agent Michael J. Krol from HSI New England emphasized their commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society, stating, "Yesterday’s sentencing of Paul Baird underscores our staunch commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society."
Court documents revealed that on January 29, 2024, Baird engaged in illegal conduct with a minor female victim under his care for the purpose of producing CSAM. He took explicit photographs and shared images on a dark website dedicated to such material.
At the time of his arrest, Baird was employed as a bus driver by Student Transportation of America for the Contoocook Valley School District.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Keene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse.
