Court Report: Waltham man pleads not guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography

Stephen McDonough, 60, of 251 Ridge Lane, Waltham, pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of child pornography and distributing material of a child in a sexual act at a Sept. 26 arraignment at Waltham District Court.

McDonough was arrested by Massachusetts State Police following the execution of a residential search warrant by the State Police Crime Unit, State Police Crime Scene Service, Middlesex State Police Detective Unit, Waltham Police Department and Watertown Police Department at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 25.

According to the police report, McDonough, a former physical education teacher at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School in Watertown, had been disseminating child pornography via Kik, an instant messaging app, and was found to be in possession as well.

The police report also said that while executing the search warrant, officers found items in McDonough’s home that matched items in the images he possessed and matched him to an individual in the images.

Police said McDonough had worked previously at Belmont and Waltham schools. The superintendents of both districts stated he had never been employed by their public schools.

McDonough was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Special Investigations agents in 2015, who said they were aware that a student at a different Watertown school where he was employed accused him of taking inappropriate photos. 

Waltham District Court Judge Jason Chan sent McDonough to Middlesex Jail in Billerica in lieu of his $25,000 bail.

Chan also set terms of release, ordering that McDonough have no unsupervised contact with minors and no employment or volunteering involving minors.

McDonough is scheduled to appear at Waltham District Court for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 22.

Anyone with information regarding this case or the exploitation of children anywhere is urged to report it to the police by calling 911.

Additional court actions

James Mazzola, 49, homeless, of Cambridge, pleaded not guilty to receiving stolen property of value less than $1,200, trespassing and possession of a burglarious instrument at a Sept. 25 arraignment. Mazzola was arrested by Waltham police following an incident at 2:21 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Fernald Development Center at 200 Trapelo Road. Mazzola was released from Waltham District Court on the condition that he appear for a pretrial hearing on Nov. 10.

John J. Graham III, 40, of 12 Lowell St., Waltham, pleaded not guilty to distribution of a class E drug at his Sept. 25 arraignment. Graham was arrested by Waltham police following an incident at approximately 7 p.m. on Sept. 24. Graham was released from Waltham District Court after posting $300 bail. He is set to appear for a Lavallee hearing on Nov. 10. As a result of a statewide public defender strike, if the court cannot provide legal representation within 45 days of an arraignment, it must dismiss the defendant’s case. 

Danielle Riccio, 41, of 15 Luther Road, Burlington, and Henry Chen of 3 Avon Road, Bedford, pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of B and C class drugs at their Sept. 26 arraignments. Riccio and Chen were arrested by Waltham police following an incident at the Residence Inn at 250 Second Ave., Waltham, at approximately 11:20 p.m. on Sept. 25. Riccio was released from Waltham District Court on the condition that she appear for her Lavallee hearing on Nov. 10. Chen was released on the condition that he appear for his pretrial hearing the same day.

All information for this story was gathered from official court documents found at Waltham District Court and case information from masscourts.org.