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Child exploitation investigation leads to Auburn arrest

A cyber tip about suspected child pornography uploads led to the arrest of an Auburn man following a lengthy investigation by New York State Police.

Christopher M. Donahue, 50, of Auburn, was charged this week after investigators traced the report to him.

DiSanto Propane (Billboard)

The investigation began Jan. 29, 2024, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTipline report indicating suspected child pornography files had been uploaded.

Information from that report was forwarded to the New York State Police for review.

Investigators later identified Donahue as a suspect. Troopers executed a search warrant at his Auburn residence on Feb. 28, 2024, seizing electronic devices.

The devices were analyzed by the State Police Troop E Computer Crimes Unit. Investigators reported finding contraband consistent with the original CyberTipline report.

On March 3, Donahue was charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child, a Class D felony, and possessing a sexual performance by a child, a Class E felony.

He was processed at State Police Auburn and transported to the Cayuga County Jail to await centralized arraignment.