Former Newton Daycare Worker Charged for Child Pornography

The Arlington man allegedly shared images on Twitter.

Photo via Police

Photo via Police

A former maintenance worker at a Newton daycare has been charged with child pornography.

Arlington police arrested Mason Lister, 21, of Arlington, after they learned he was allegedly trading obscene images of children across Twitter, DropBox, and Kik. A letter sent to parents Thursday from Family Access of Newton said he was charged with the possession and distribution of child pornography.

“The safety of our children is always the primary concern and we are cooperating fully with the authorities,” school officials wrote. Lister’s laptop and tablet were seized from his home as part of the investigation, conducted jointly with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force.

“The exploitation and abuse of children are among the worst crimes in our society, but thanks to the talented detective work of our officers, including Inspector Smith, we are able to identify and prosecute those who contribute to the proliferation of child pornography,” Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan told the Arlington Advocate. “The Arlington Police Department will continue to pursue these felons aggressively wherever they may be.”

Lister is no longer employed at Family Access, and school officials said his job duties never placed him in contact with the children.