Matthew J. Bistany, 51, is a police officer from Methuen, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. In 1999, he joined the Methuen Police Department.
Earlier this year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a tip to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of the Massachusetts State Police reporting the upload of child pornography images to a specific internet protocol address. An investigation connected the upload of the child sexual assault material to Bistany.
When Methuen Police Department chief Scott McNamara learned of the allegations against Bistany, the latter was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation and any internal investigation that is to follow. A warrant was issued to the police officer’s arrest.
“While Officer Bistany is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the Methuen Police Department condemns the officer’s conduct as alleged in the charging documents,” McNamara stated. “These allegations in no way reflect upon the character and reputation of the men and women of the Methuen Police Department who stand committed to protecting children and continue to serve with distinction.”
On the morning of August 8, 2023, the Methuen Police Department and the cyber crimes unit of the Massachusetts State Police arrested Bistany at his residence in Methuen. He was charged with one count of child pornography.
Bistany was arraigned in Lawrence District Court in Lawrence, Essex County. A judge approved $5,000 bail on condition that he not have unsupervised contact with children under 16.
On October 3, 2023, Bistany will be back in court. The Essex County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
CONAN Daily 