John Giarrusso, a former Seabrook, New Hampshire police officer, faces pending state and federal charges related to child sexual abuse material. Giarrusso, 49, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was arrested by Massachusetts authorities in March 2025, resigned from the Seabrook Police Department days later, and was arrested again in August 2025 on a federal charge of receipt of child pornography. He was an 11-year veteran of the department at the time of his first arrest.1Seacoastonline. Seabrook Police Officer John Giarrusso Faces Federal Child Pornography Charge
How the Investigation Started
Haverhill police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on February 11, 2025, about the dissemination of child sexual abuse material online. The messaging platform Kik had flagged uploaded files, and Haverhill police traced the associated IP address and email.1Seacoastonline. Seabrook Police Officer John Giarrusso Faces Federal Child Pornography Charge
According to a police affidavit, Detective Kaylee Sarde reviewed Kik messages in which Giarrusso allegedly engaged in explicit conversations with other users, including a person who identified herself as 14 years old. In messages to another user, he allegedly claimed “the girls in town call him Officer Sexy,” identified himself as a “New England cop,” and sent a video in which he held up his police badge and said, “I love blue.”2WMUR. Seabrook New Hampshire John Giarrusso Federal Case
Giarrusso was arrested on March 3, 2025. The Essex County District Attorney’s Office charged him on March 6 with possession of child pornography and distribution of graphic sexual images to a minor. He resigned from the Seabrook Police Department the next day, March 7, according to Police Chief Brett Walker.2WMUR. Seabrook New Hampshire John Giarrusso Federal Case
The State Charges in Essex County
In July 2025, an Essex County grand jury indicted Giarrusso on state charges including possession of child pornography and dissemination of visual material of a child. Each count of possession, and of disseminating obscene matter to a minor, carries two and a half to five years in jail. The dissemination of visual material of a child charge carries 10 to 20 years. He was released on bail on the state case.1Seacoastonline. Seabrook Police Officer John Giarrusso Faces Federal Child Pornography Charge
The Federal Indictment
While the state case was pending, federal prosecutors brought a separate charge. On August 14, 2025, Giarrusso was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging one count of receipt of child pornography, and he appeared that afternoon before Magistrate Judge Jessica D. Hedges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.3PACER Monitor. USA v Giarrusso The government moved for detention, but Judge Hedges granted release on conditions after a hearing the next day. A federal grand jury returned a formal indictment on September 12, 2025.4U.S. Department of Justice. Former New Hampshire Police Officer Indicted Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material
The federal count concerns conduct on October 16 and 17, 2024, when Giarrusso allegedly knowingly received video files depicting child sexual abuse material on Kik. Charging documents describe the victims in the videos as appearing to be roughly five to 11 years old.4U.S. Department of Justice. Former New Hampshire Police Officer Indicted Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material
Receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years, along with a minimum of five years and up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.4U.S. Department of Justice. Former New Hampshire Police Officer Indicted Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material
Where the Cases Stand
The federal case is docketed as USA v. Giarrusso, No. 1:25-cr-10366, assigned to Judge Myong J. Joun. As of the most recent docket activity in November 2025, Giarrusso remained released on conditions, had not yet entered a plea, and no trial date had been set. The Essex County state charges are also pending.3PACER Monitor. USA v Giarrusso Giarrusso is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.