Over the past few months, the Lebanon Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit has been conducting pro-active investigations involving individuals attempting to target children who reside in Lebanon.
Lebanon Police Officers engaged in conversations via social media with men who were later identified as: Richard Hill, age 42, of Cornish, NH, and David Farnham, age 64, of Randolph Center, VT.
This investigation led to both Hill and Farnham arriving, on separate dates, at a location in Lebanon to meet a person that they thought was a juvenile for sexual acts.
On May 7, 2020, Richard Hill was taken into custody and charged with Certain Uses of Computer Services Prohibited, Attempted Felonious Sexual Assault, and Attempted Endangering Welfare of a Child, all Class B Felonies. Hill requested the services of a bail commissioner and was transported to the Grafton County House of Corrections, pending arraignment.
On May 14, 2020, David Farnham was taken into custody and charged with Attempted Trafficking in Persons, Attempted Felonious Sexual Assault, both Class B Felonies, as well as Attempted Sexual Assault, a Class A Misdemeanor. Farnham was transported to the Grafton County House of Corrections, pending arraignment.
The Lebanon Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to prosecute those who use the internet to sexually exploit children. The Lebanon Police Department is an affiliate of the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC).
Richard Hill
David Farnham
Authorized by: Chief Richard R. Mello
Date: 6/11/2020