BOSTON – A Whitman man was arrested and charged in federal court in Boston on Monday, Sept. 10, 2018, with child pornography offenses. On Friday, he appeared in federal court for a detention and probable cause hearing.

Matthew Kulikowski, 37, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. On Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, Kulikowski appeared in federal court for a detention hearing before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler, who has taken the matter under advisement. Kulikowski was remanded to custody until further notice.

According to the charging document, law enforcement learned that an internet user at Kulikowski’s Whitman home distributed child pornography using the Kik messenger application. A search of the home resulted in the seizure of a tablet located in Kulikowski’s bedroom that contained approximately 100 images and videos depicting child pornography, including the sexual assault of girls who appeared to be between four-and-eight-years-old. Kulikowski was subsequently arrested and charged in federal court. Forensic analysis of devices seized pursuant to the search warrant is ongoing. 

According to court documents, at the time of his arrest, Kulikowski was on pretrial release from Plymouth County Superior Court, where he has a case pending for multiple child exploitation offenses, including possession of child pornography, disseminating obscene material to a minor, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and enticement of a child under 16.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison. Both charges provide for a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Whitman Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns, or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. 

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.