The Lebanon Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit has been conducting an investigation through a social media provider targeting individuals who were seeking to victimize children.
Lebanon Police Officers engaged in a conversation via social media with a male who was later identified as James Direnzo, age 56, of Lebanon, NH.
This investigation led to Direnzo arriving at a location in Lebanon to meet a person who he thought was a juvenile for sexual acts on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
Direnzo was taken into custody and charged with Certain Uses of Computer Services Prohibited and two counts of Attempted Felonious Sexual Assault, all Class B Felonies. Direnzo is also charged with Attempted Sexual Assault, a Class A Misdemeanor. Direnzo was held in preventative detention and is expected to be arraigned in the Grafton County Superior Court on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
The Lebanon Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit will continue to prosecute those who use the internet to sexually exploit children. The Lebanon Police Department is an affiliate of the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC).
Authorized by: Chief Phillip J. Roberts Date: 09/20/2022