Albion man pleads guilty in federal court to child pornography
Christopher Ridder
BUFFALO – Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Christopher Ridder, 46, of Albion pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that in January 2017, the defendant was found in possession of over 600 images of child pornography, some depicting prepubescent minors and some depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct.
Ridder was living in Medina when two Medina residents, on September 3, 2016, allegedly found a Samsung Centura smart phone in the trash in front of the former residence of the defendant on South Main St.
The following day, one of the individuals who found the phone charged it, began searching through it, and opened the Facebook application which automatically connected to Facebook account of the Ridder.
The phone also had pictures on it of individuals that the person knew as well as 75 images of young boys in various states of dress (bathing suits, underwear, etc.). Some pictures contained naked images of different boys. The individuals who found the phone turned the phone into the Village of Medina Police Department.
Further review of the phone and its contents by law enforcement officers uncovered a Facebook Messenger conversation that took place between Ridder and another individual. Officers also discovered another Facebook Messenger conversation between the defendant and second individual.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen and the Medina Police Department, under the direction of Chief Chad Kenward.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2018, at 2 p.m. before Judge Vilardo.
