Internet Predator Pleads Guilty In Federal Court

In US District Court in New Haven on October 19, an Enfield man pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, and to one count of possession of child pornography.

Joseph Cote, 52, of Enfield entered the pleas before US District Judge Mark R. Kravitz, according to a statement from the US Attorney Kevin J. O’Connor.

According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, beginning in approximately January 2006, Cote engaged in numerous Internet conversations with various persons he believed to be teenage girls under the age of 16 but who were, in fact, undercover law enforcement officers in Vermont and Connecticut posing as girls.

Judge Kravitz has scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2008, at which time Cote faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years, a maximum term of life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $500,000.

The Newtown Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation into Cote’s activities, according to the US Attorney.

Newtown Police Detective Jason Frank has conducted local police’s continuing series of investigations into Internet predators. In those cases, Det Frank poses as an underage female in chat rooms on the Internet, which the accused persons then allegedly seek to meet for illicit purposes.