Thursday, 4:30 PM
Berkley horse trainer faces new molestation, rape charges
By Globe Staff
A popular horse trainer in Southeastern Massachusetts accused of molesting and taking nude photographs of teenage girls has been indicted on 14 new charges that include statutory rape and possession of child pornography.
Joseph M. Silva, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today in New Bedford Superior Court, now faces 22 charges. He was held until he returns to court on Friday for a dangerousness hearing. Silva, 31, ran the Silver Falcon Stable in Berkley and taught horseback riding to teenagers.
Police first arrested Silva in March, and he pleaded guilty to eight charges of posing teenage girls for naked photographs and molesting them. He posted bail and was free until police arrested him again on Wednesday at his home in Swansea on the new charges.
After the first arrest, police said in a search of just one of Silva's 10 computer hard drives investigators found 70,000 images, including 265 pictures of children from Morse Brook Equestrian Center in North Attleborough, Haskins Farm in Berkley, and Holloway Brook Farm in Lakeville.
In 86 images, the children were unclothed, according to prosecutors. It was not clear where the nude photographs were taken and if they included images of children from all three farms.
