Editor’s Note: This story contains graphic descriptions.
A former New Hampshire marina manager paid underage employees for explicit Snapchat videos and “unwanted sexual contact and sexual acts,” according to federal prosecutors.
John Murray, 56, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of child pornography and four counts of sex trafficking of a minor after five former employees, all male, came forward and said he paid them for pornography and to perform sexual acts on them, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire said in a Dec. 14 press release.
From at least 2015 until 2021, when he was arrested, Murray worked as a manager at West Alton Marina in New Hampshire, hiring and supervising seasonal workers, most of whom were under the age of 18, the press release said.
In August 2021, one of Murray’s associates disclosed that Murray paid him for photos and videos of him masturbating and ejaculating, according to court documents. Murray told the teen to send the videos via Snapchat, court documents show. The employee estimates that he has sent about 15 to 20 videos.
Three other former employees shared similar experiences, and videos of all four employees were found on Murray’s phone, court documents show. Investigators determined that some of the videos had been distributed to others.
A fifth employee, who worked at the marina every summer from 2015 to 2018, told authorities that when Murray was 15, Murray “caressed his genitals and performed oral sex on him”. This happened about 10 more times that summer, and each time Murray paid the employee $100, according to court documents.
The employee told officials that Murray continued to pay him to perform oral sex on him in subsequent summers.
Another employee, who was also paid to send Murray videos of himself, also said Murray paid him for sex acts starting in the summer of 2020 when he was 15, court documents say.
The marina did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment. Murray’s attorney declined to comment.
As a result of his guilty plea, Murray also had to surrender an iPhone 6, iPhone 12, iPad Pro, Lenovo computer and HP laptop.
Prosecutors said they propose that Murray be sentenced to 25 years in prison. The sentencing is set for March 22, 2023.
The marina is about 100 miles north of Boston.
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