CyberTip received by Massachusetts State Police results in disturbing charges involving children for southeastern Massachusetts man

A southeastern Massachusetts man is facing disturbing charges after an arrest that took place this week.

According to police, on January 23rd, 2026, Barnstable Police Detectives, with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police, and the United States Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence located in Hyannis, MA.

As a result of the search warrant and a follow-up investigation over the following days, 31-year-old James Christie of Hyannis was arrested. The search warrant and subsequent arrest 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 from the Barnstable Police Department Investigative Services Division. The CyberTip alleged that a device, later identified to by Christie’s, likely possessed and disseminated child pornography. The investigation revealed Christie’s cellphone contained child pornography images and evidence of online chatting where it is believed Christie was speaking with other individuals online about the sexual exploitation of children.

Christie was arrested in Plymouth, MA on February 3rd, 2026, and then booked at the Barnstable Police Department on the charges of Possession of Child Pornography and Dissemination of Child Pornography.

Christie was arraigned at Barnstable District Court on Wednesday February 4th, 2026 and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on February 25th, 2026.

The investigation is ongoing at this time.

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