Author Brendan DuBois Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges
Multiple Possession Charges Allege DuBois Possessed Child Sex Abuse Images
Best-selling author Brendan DuBois finds himself on the wrong side of the law as he faces six felony count charges of possession of child sex abuse images. DuBois turned himself over to the authorities, specifically into the Exeter Police Department, following an arrest warrant issued against him. Currently, he is in preventative detention with no bail, and a judge has taken his request for bail under advisement.
The arrest warrant brings forth allegations that DuBois possessed an estimated 35 visual representations of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. These images featured both boys and girls under the age of 18. DuBois, known for his mystery novels, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to these allegations. His representative, Attorney Harry Starbranch, has yet to release a comment on the matter.
Investigation Approach Involving Multiple Departments
The Exeter Police Chief, Stephan R. Poulin, shed light on the matter stating that the investigation began in March and was a joint effort involving multiple departments. This included not just the local Exeter Police Department, but also the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. Working together, this collaboration issued a search warrant which eventually led to the arrest of DuBois. Poulin, however, emphasized they would not be commenting further on the issue.
Further Details Emerge During the Search
Through an affidavit by the Exeter police, additional details have come forth about the case. In March, a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted them about possible child pornography tied to a Google Drive. This Google Drive was linked to DuBois’ IP address according to investigators.
The affidavit stated that during a search warrant execution on May 7 in DuBois’s house, the author declined to converse with the investigators. The items seized during the search included a Toshiba 1TB hard drive and an Apple laptop among other items. DuBois’s search history revealed alarming preferences, including searches about how to determine if Google had reported his activities to law enforcement.
Publishing Deal Put On Hold
DuBois, known for his works such as “The First Lady” and “Cornwalls Are Gone”, has had his publishing deal with Severn River Publishing suspended. DuBois’s biography and sales of his books were also removed from the publisher’s site with immediate effect following the severe nature of the allegations brought against him. In a statement released by the publisher, they expressed their deep disturbance and felt the need to uphold their values, the trust of readers, authors, and the publishing community.
The case is an ongoing one with no conclusion as of yet. DuBois, known to the world as a best-selling author of 26 novels, now finds himself in legal battle, the outcome of which could change his career, and more importantly, his life.
