Suspended Sentence For Former Brewster Cop

BARNSTABLE – A former Brewster police officer has received an 18-month suspended jail sentence and three years’ probation after pleading guilty to a host of charges including possession of child pornography.

 Matthew B. Marshall’s sentence was handed down by Barnstable Superior Court Judge Mark Gildea on Feb. 27 and means that he will avoid jail time if he meets the terms of his probation.

 Marshall faced a total of seven charges stemming from an investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. He was charged with three counts of possessing child pornography and one count each of being a first responder unlawfully photographing a scene, felony vandalism, unlawfully disseminating criminal records information, and photographing an unsuspecting nude person. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a hearing on Dec. 20.

 Last July 25, investigators brought the charges after having been tipped off by social media company Snapchat that one of their users, identified as Marshall, had uploaded pornographic photos of girls who appeared to be between the ages of 10 and 17. The investigation uncovered several other alleged offenses involving Snapchat uploads. Marshall was a Brewster police officer at the time of his arrest but resigned after being placed on administrative leave.

 Poring through the Snapchat account, investigators also allegedly found several video clips of Marshall urinating on the sinks and faucets of public restrooms. One such clip allegedly shows Marshall in his police uniform urinating all over the restroom in what was later determined to be a Dunkin' Donuts restaurant in Yarmouth. For this offense, Marshall was charged with vandalism.

 The account allegedly also contained video clips related to Marshall's police work. One included a photograph taken from an official police database, and another appeared to have been taken while Marshall was at the scene of a call for service in Brewster showing an elderly man in a state of undress. 

Marshall was arrested at the end of his duty shift on July 24, at which time Brewster Police Chief Heath Eldredge immediately suspended Marshall's license to carry a firearm, secured his service weapon and placed him on administrative leave.

 The judge sentenced Marshall to 18 months in the house of correction, with the sentence to be suspended, for all of the charges. His probation started immediately and will remain in effect until Feb. 26, 2028; during that time he must have no contact with minor children other than his own. Marshall was also forced to pay more than $7,500 in fines and court fees. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and submit to an evaluation and any recommended treatment as a sex offender.