A Keene woman has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role in producing child sexual abuse material, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Erin Creegan.
Krystal Baird, 40, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe and will also serve 10 years of supervised release following her imprisonment. In November 2025, a federal jury found Baird guilty after a five-day trial of aiding and abetting the production of child sexual abuse material.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that on January 29, 2024, Krystal and Paul Baird were babysitting a nine-year-old child. The child was given THC-infused candy before Krystal Baird directed Paul Baird to encourage the child to engage in sexual activity. Paul Baird then took sexually explicit photographs of the victim, and Krystal Baird photographed Paul Baird sexually assaulting the child. These images were later uploaded by Paul Baird to a dark web site focused on child pornography. Testimony indicated that the abuse had begun as early as August 2023.
Before her arrest, Krystal Baird was a licensed childcare provider.
“Crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children inflict lasting trauma on victims and their families,” said United States Attorney Creegan. “It is particularly disturbing that this defendant was once in a position of trust, caring for children. Today’s sentence reflects the particularly appalling circumstances of Krystal Baid’s crime.”
Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations in New England stated: “Krystal Baird’s crimes are deeply disturbing. Baird was a willing participant when she and her partner conspired to drug and sexually abuse a child left in their care, photographing their crimes to share on the dark web. She denied any responsibility, but a jury rejected her story and found her guilty. Today’s sentence emphasizes the incredible and irreversible damage she inflicted on a young life. We hope that knowing Krystal and Paul Baird will be behind bars for decades brings some peace to the victim and their family.”
Paul Baird has already been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Keene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 aimed at protecting children from exploitation and abuse by coordinating resources across federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute offenders as well as rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
