Gloucester Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography

BOSTON - A Gloucester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Robert Burnham, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, 2026. Burnham was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in September 2025 and remains detained pending trial.

According to the charging documents, from on or about June 11, 2024 to Oct. 4, 2024, Burnham persuaded and coerced a 13-year-old minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing pictures and videos and transmitting them to him via social media. Additionally, on April 28, 2025, Burnham knowingly possessed files that depict CSAM.

The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 15 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Harper County Sheriff's Office, FBI Kansas City, Lincoln Police Department and Gloucester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.