‘Predator Poachers’ video leads to arrest in New Hampshire
DOVER, N.H. —
A man who was the subject of an online post by the group Predator Poachers has been arrested by Dover police.
The Predator Poachers conducted undercover stings in two New Hampshire communities last week, confronting men the group says it believes were trying to meet underage teens.
The group alerted Dover police that Andrew Fawcett, 32, had solicited a 13-year-old girl to meet at his residence for a sexual encounter.
Fawcett was not actually talking with a 13-year-old girl, but instead, a decoy adult with the Predator Poachers.
Dover police’s investigation found that Fawcett had sent and requested sexual photographs while conversing with the decoy.
Investigators also found an unreported online identifier that was not previously reported to the sex offender registry.
Fawcett was arrested on Aug. 28 for:
- Two counts of certain uses of computer services prohibited
- Two counts of indecent exposure and lewdness
- One count of registration of online identifiers
Fawcett was previously arrested in 2016, convicted of felonious sexual assault, and served time in jail. He is a Level 3 registered sex offender.
Alex Rosen with Predator Poachers was frustrated that Fawcett was not arrested as soon as he gave police their evidence but is glad Fawcett is back behind bars.
“I’m not satisfied until he goes back to prison,” Rosen said. “But I’m certainly happier. I’m certainly happier than I was the past week.”
While both groups want sexual predators off the streets, officers say they must create a case that holds up in court, not just online.
“We have an obligation to conduct a thorough investigation to review all the evidence that exists,” Dover police Capt. Mark Nadeau said. “And often we find additional crimes, as we did in this circumstance. We need to ensure that the evidence is lawfully obtained and it will sustain through the court proceedings.”
Fawcett is being held without bail at the Strafford County House of Corrections. His arraignment is set for Aug. 31.
