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November 30, 2007

Former Mass. selectman sentenced to five years

A former Massachusetts selectman who attempted to lure a 15-year-old girl over the Internet to meet for sex was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to serve 5 years in federal prison.

William Christensen, 61, of Southborough, Mass., pleaded guilty in August to using the internet to entice a minor for sex and interstate travel for sexual conduct with a minor.

At the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly said if there had been a trial, prosecutors would have proved that in May 2006 a parent told Rhode Island state police that she had seen inappropriate sexual overtures in an online chat room.

A detective posed as a 15-year-old girl and, prosecutors said, became involved in conversations with Christensen, who arranged a meeting for sex at an East Providence apartment complex.

When Christensen, a former Southborough selectman, arrived at the complex, he was arrested by state police detectives.

He was ordered to report to prison on Dec. 28; until then, Christensen in on home confinement.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 10:27 AM | Permalink

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