Cape Cod man released with conditions after being accused of possessing child sexual abuse material

Authorities say that a Cape Cod man is facing a disturbing charge.

According to police, last Thursday, Barnstable Police Detectives, with the assistance of the United States Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force and the Barnstable Police K-9 Unit, executed a search warrant at a home in Marstons Mills.

This search warrant was the result of a CyberTip received by the Massachusetts State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that was assigned to a task force officer in the Investigative Services Division. The CyberTip alleged that a device located at the residence of 39-year-old Dane Hitchins of Marstons Mills was uploading child sexual abuse material to an online server. The on-scene investigation revealed at least one digital device that had child sexual abuse material on it, to include an image that was reported in the CyberTip.

Several digital devices were seized during the execution of the warrant and are being examined as this investigation continues.

Hitchins was arrested and booked at the Barnstable Police Department on the charge of Possession of Child Pornography.

He was arraigned at Barnstable District Court on Friday with conditions of release to have no unsupervised contact with children under 18 except for his own children. He has a pretrial hearing scheduled for October 6th.

This case is being prosecuted by the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office.