Joseph Hiersche of Chicopee admits to child porn charges

BOSTON (WWLP) - A Chicopee man who prosecutors say downloaded child pornography and took hidden camera video of two minors bathing pleaded guilty on child exploitation charges Tuesday.

Forty year-old Joseph Hiersche pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography at federal court in Boston.

Prosecutors say Hiersche had taken hidden camera video and still images of two minors while they were bathing, in order to send the videos to someone he met online. They also say he downloaded “numerous” videos and images of child pornography over a two-year period from March of 2010 to March of 2012.

Hiersche will be sentenced on March 7, and faces up to 20 years in prison, and a $2.25 million fine.