A child exploitation investigation led state police to a Rochester man after a review of online activity flagged by a national reporting center.
New York State Police arrested a Rochester resident following an investigation into the online sharing of child sexual abuse material. Police identified Adam Edward Hawley, 32, after tracing the activity to a residence in the city.
State police said the case began in September when investigators received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about material shared through a social media platform. The investigation led troopers to a home on Alvin Place.
Troopers executed a search warrant at the residence on March 6 and seized several electronic devices. A forensic review at the New York State Police Computer Forensics Laboratory later confirmed the presence of child sexual abuse material on multiple devices.
Hawley voluntarily appeared at the New York State Police Rochester barracks on January 27 and was taken into custody without incident.
Police charged Hawley with possession of a sexual performance by a child, a felony. He was processed and released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Rochester City Court on February 10 at 9:30 a.m.
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