PITTSFIELD — A Dalton man already facing accusations that he tried to lure a 14-year-old girl into having sex is now facing more charges out of Pennsylvania for reportedly engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with another girl.
James D. Lafrance, 63, turned himself in to Dalton Police on Monday, after learning that there was a warrant for his arrest on a charge of being a fugitive from justice stemming from the Pennsylvania charges. He was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court later that day and ordered held without bail. He likely will be extradited to Pennsylvania.
Dalton Police Chief Jeffrey Coe said Wednesday that his department is conducting its own investigation, which likely will lead to other charges against Lafrance.
Lafrance was arrested Aug. 27 in Newburyport, during a sting operation in which he thought he was communicating with a teenage girl but was conversing with undercover police. The two made arrangements to meet at the Martin Burns Wildlife Management Area in Byfield, where Lafrance was taken into custody.
Lafrance has pleaded not guilty to charges of enticing a child under 16, sending obscene matter to a minor and disseminating obscene matter in connection with that case.
Police also were granted a search warrant for the contents of Lafrance's computer.
According to court files, Lafrance's browser history included searches for terms including torture, rape, brutal rape child movie, young teen porn vids, recording someone else's webcam and free teen chatrooms. Police said the search also recovered child pornography and videos of what are believed to be girls younger than 18 engaged in sex acts at Lafrance's direction.
According to police, one of the girls was identified as a 16-year-old from Pennsylvania. That girl was interviewed by Pennsylvania State Police and confirmed that she was the one in the video, according to court files.
Lafrance directed the girl to perform explicit sex acts via an online chat service, according to police.
Pennsylvania state police filed a felony charge of corruption of a minor against Lafrance. Dalton Police tried to arrest Lafrance on Monday, on a warrant for the fugitive charge, but he was in Newburyport attending a pretrial proceeding in his open case.
Lafrance later turned himself in to Dalton Police and was taken into custody without incident.
Coe said the department is encouraging anyone with information to contact Dalton Police Officer Deanna Strout, who is leading the investigation, by calling 413-684-0300.
Bob Dunn can be reached at bdunn@berkshireeagle.com, at @BobDunn413 on Twitter and 413-496-6249.