Member of the Cape Cod National Guard charged with child pornography

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment a master sergeant in the Massachusetts National Guard on child pornography charges in another attack on the Cape base.

Nicholas Wells, 43, who is stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base in Sandwich as part of the 102 Security Forces, was arrested last month on child pornography charges. At an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, Wells agreed to voluntary detention.

On Thursday, those charges were strengthened when a federal grand jury returned an indictment on possession and distribution of child pornography — with each charge carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The next hearing in the case has not yet been scheduled, according to court records.

The U.S. Department of Justice in Boston said investigators found more than 300 images and 100 videos of child pornography on Wells’ personal devices, with evidence that he helped distribute at least 70 videos to others. Some child pornography depicts babies.

Wells allegedly wrote extensively to an undercover federal agent about his sexual desire for little girls and, more shockingly, even claimed to have sexually assaulted two young victims, according to an affidavit filed by Special Agent Derek Black in support of the charges.

When the FBI executed a search warrant on March 5, Wells allegedly admitted to the charges when he agreed to speak with agents in a recorded interview.

“WELLS further admitted that he watches videos depicting child pornography and that he prefers videos (and photos) involving underage girls,” the statement said.

The Massachusetts National Guard told the Herald they removed Wells from his position the same day the FBI executed the search warrant. Wells, who joined the Guard in 1998, has been barred from Otis, stripped of his security clearance and scheduled to be separated from the organization on the first of this month.

“The charges against Nicholas Wells are very serious,” a National Guard spokesman told the Herald after Wells’ initial arrest. “Criminal activity is incompatible with our values ​​as an organization and will not be tolerated within our ranks.”

This is the the same base where the Guard technical support member is present responsible for “one of the most significant leaks of classified documents and information in the history of the United States.” Jack Teixeira was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison.