Newmarket school employee charged with possession of chid sexual abuse images

Paul Feely, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
·2 min read
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Apr. 19—A facilities technician at Newmarket Junior-Senior High School has been arrested for five counts of possession of child sexual abuse images, police and school officials said Friday.

Newmarket police said in a Facebook post that they received information last week about an incident of possession of child sexual abuse images that may have occurred in the town.

Police said a person of interest was identified through a joint effort with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rockingham County Attorney's Office and local law enforcement.

Police sought and obtained a search warrant for the individual and items related to the investigation.

On Friday, Newmarket police said Devan E. Chick, 37, of Newmarket was taken into custody and charged with five counts of possession of child sexual abuse images.

Chick was released on $2,500 cash bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 20 at Brentwood District Court.

Newmarket police said they are working with the Newmarket School District on this incident.

"At the time of this release, there is no information revealing any (other) locally involved person or victims," Newmarket police said in a statement Friday.

On Friday afternoon, Newmarket School Superintendent Todd Allen posted a notice on social media saying Chick was removed from all responsibilities and placed on administrative leave as soon as the school district was informed April 10 that police were investigating a school employee for alleged possession of child sexual abuse images.

Chick remained out on leave as of Friday, Allen said.

"As I have emphasized throughout this process, there still is no evidence that these charge are connected in any way to any students, staff, or Newmarket residents other than Mr. Chick," Allen said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing, and police said they have no further comment at this time.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Newmarket Police Det. Zach Wedgeworth at 603-659-8505.