PLAISTOW — A Massachusetts man is facing charges after he allegedly made arrangements to meet up for a sexual rendezvous with a 15-year-old boy who turned out to be an undercover officer.

Hunter Scott Bartlett, 56, of Newburyport, Mass., is charged with attempted felonious sexual assault, use of a computer services prohibited, and attempted prohibited sales for allegedly telling the officer that he would bring alcohol along when they met.

Deputy Police Chief Kathleen Jones said the investigation began Aug. 25 when Detective George Wickson learned that Bartlett was attempting to make arrangements to meet up with young males for sexual acts through a website.

Wickson went undercover to pose as a 15-year-old boy and began having many conversations with Bartlett online and through text messages, Jones said.

During their conversations, Jones said the two agreed to meet up at the park and ride commuter lot on Westville Road on Tuesday to engage in inappropriate sexual conduct. She said Bartlett indicated that he would bring alcohol with him.

Bartlett was led to believe that the boy lived in the area of the park and ride. When he arrived in a taxi cab on Aug. 27, Wickson and Detective Patrick Schiavone and Sgt. Glenn Miller had their eye on the parking lot and saw Bartlett get out and walk across the street to an apartment building, Jones said. As Bartlett wandered around, police arrested him without incident.

Jones said it's rare for Plaistow police to go undercover for investigations involving adults trying to meet up with minors through the Internet.

Bartlett was arraigned Tuesday and ordered held on $50,000 cash bail at the Rockingham County jail. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for Thursday in the 10th Circuit Court-District Division in Plaistow.
jschreiber@newstote.com