CLINTON - Austin Haughwout and the Clinton Police have become very familiar with one another over the last couple of years but even the police were surprised by what was recently uncovered about the 19-year-old.
Two years ago, while flying a drone above Hammonasset Beach, a sunbathing woman came after Haughwout, claiming he was she didn't want to be recorded by the camera on the drone. She called him pervert.
Fast forward to Wednesday, when Clinton police charged Haughwout with possession of child pornography and enticing a minor with a computer. These charges were a result of a nearly year-long investigation after police seized Haughwout's phone and other electronics after he allegedly assaulted cops as he was turning himself in for a traffic related arrest last July.
"During the course of the examination, images of children, in obscene performances, were observed, were found on his phone," said Sgt. Jeremiah Dunn of the Clinton Police Department.
Dunn says police found conversations that Haughwout allegedly initiated with a 14-year-old. He allegedly asked the individual to meet at a location and perform at a specified sex act.
The arrest warrant has been sealed, but Haughout's attorney has reviewed it and feels his client's communication with the minor "does not fall, in my opinion, within the definition of either child pornography or enticing a minor," said attorney Jon Schoenhorn.
The conversations that allegedly occurred between his client and the minor involved protected first amendment speech, he says.
"They did not involve any personal interaction and did not even involve someone in the state," said Schoenhorn.
So, he said he intends to file a motion to suppress because he believes his clients phone was illegally in the possession of the Clinton Police Department.
Haughwout was due to be released on bond Thursday afternoon. His next court date, in this matter, is due for July 14.
