STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Joshua A. Schohn, 29, of Akron, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in March 2019, the FBI received a call from the mother of two girls (complainant) who stated that she recently discovered child pornography on a laptop computer belonging to her exboyfriend, the defendant. In addition, the complainant stated that Schohn took nude videos of her daughters, then eight and six years old (Victim 1 and Victim 2). The defendant was arrested by the New York State Police on charges of assault and possession of a sexual performance by a child.
During the course of the investigation, state and federal investigators determined that Schohn’s laptop contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography. Other videos found on the laptop were sexual in nature and were produced by Schohn during a visit to a water park in Erie, Pennsylvania, in the presence of Victims 1 and 2.
Investigators also learned from the complainant that she discovered YouTube searches relating to getting children ready for baths and nude religious rituals with children. The searches were done by the defendant.
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is detained pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 3, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Edward Kennedy.
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