PATTERSON- A 22-year-old Patterson man is facing felony charges for allegedly sharing child sexual abuse materials through the social media platform Snapchat.
The Putnam Sheriff’s Department reported the arrest on Friday of Mario Leiva in connection with the reported incident.
Sheriff Brian Hess said on May 7 his office received a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about the online distribution of suspected child sexual abuse material over the internet.
Hess said that after an investigation, Leiva was identified as the suspect and taken into custody earlier this week in Patterson without incident. Investigators later executed a court-authorized search warrant at his home and seized several electronic devices.
Leiva was arrested on charges of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 17 along with Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. He was arraigned in Patterson Justice Court and was released without bail.
The top charge carries a maximum seven-year state prison term if found guilty.
Hess thanked the Homeland Security Investigations – New York’s Hudson
Valley Office and the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office for their aid during the investigation.
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