MILFORD — A 37-year-old Milford man was arrested Wednesday on multiple child exploitation charges after Massachusetts State Police said investigators traced an urgent CyberTip to his residence within hours.
According to Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State Police Cyber Crimes Unit received an escalated CyberTip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children on Aug. 5, 2026, concerning the upload of suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that investigators believed may have been newly created.
A preliminary investigation identified the account associated with the material as belonging to Manuel Dafonte, 37, of Milford, Massachusetts State Police said.
Since investigators believed the material may have depicted the recent abuse of a child, members of the Cyber Crimes Unit launched an urgent investigation aimed at identifying and protecting any potential victim.
Investigators with the Cyber Crimes Unit obtained an emergency disclosure from the online service provider that identified the IP address associated with the uploaded material, leading troopers to Dafonte’s Milford residence, according to Massachusetts State Police.
State police troopers in coordination with the Milford Police Department located Dafonte near his residence, served him with the search warrant, and seized the cellphone in his possession, along with two additional cellphones found inside his vehicle.
Troopers subsequently executed a search warrant at Dafonte’s residence and recovered evidence that Massachusetts State Police said linked the uploaded images to locations inside the home.
After interviewing Dafonte, troopers placed him under arrest.
Following interviews and additional investigation, members of the Cyber Crimes Unit identified the alleged child victim. In a statement announcing the arrest Friday, Massachusetts State Police said the child will be provided with resources and support to address their physical and emotional well-being.
Manuel Dafonte, 37, of Milford, was charged with the following:
- Possession of Child Pornography, Second Offense
- Posing a Child in a State of Nudity
- Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child under 14
- Photographing an Unsuspecting Person in the Nude
