North Reading Police and Law Enforcement Partners Charge Local Man with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

NORTH READING — Chief Mark Zimmerman reports that the North Reading Police Department, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Massachusetts State Police, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), have arrested and charged a North Reading man with multiple counts of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

RALPH E. HANNAN III, AGE 68, OF NORTH READING, was arrested and charged with:

• Three counts of Possession of Child Pornography

Hannan is a registered Level II sex offender. 

The arrest is the result of a proactive investigation into the online dissemination of CSAM through an internet-based file-sharing platform.

Detectives from the North Reading Police Department, with support from state and federal law enforcement partners, executed a search warrant at Hannan’s residence on Friday, April 18, 2025.

A forensic review of seized digital evidence allegedly uncovered more than 10,000 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.

Hannan was taken into custody on Friday, Aug. 15, by members of the North Reading Police Department’s Detective and Patrol Divisions, with assistance from HSI.

Following his arrest, Hannan was brought to Woburn District Court for arraignment.

 
“I want to thank the Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, as well as our state and federal law enforcement partners, for their work assisting us as we seek to keep our communities safe from those who would contribute to the abuse of children,” said Chief Zimmerman. “I also want to recognize and thank all the men and women of the North Reading Police Department, and particularly our Detective Division, whose diligence and expertise were instrumental in bringing this case to a successful arrest. The North Reading Police Department is committed to increasing its investigative capabilities through specialized training, information sharing, and joint investigations to better protect our community and child victims everywhere.”