A Bath man has been indicted on 14 felony charges after investigators said they found child pornography in his possession during an investigation that began with a confrontation involving social media personalities.
Joseph R. Lawrence, 44, was arraigned Thursday in Steuben County Court on a sealed indictment warrant, according to the Steuben County District Attorney’s Office.
A Steuben County grand jury indicted Lawrence on seven counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, each a Class D felony, and seven counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, each a Class E felony.
Prosecutors said the charges stem from child pornography Lawrence allegedly possessed in the village of Bath in July.
Lawrence, represented by the Public Defender’s Office, pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts during his arraignment before Steuben County Court Judge Mathew K. McCarthy.
He was remanded to the Steuben County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail and is expected to return to court at a later date.
District Attorney Brooks Baker said Lawrence’s contact with law enforcement began through what he described as a “catch a predator” confrontation involving social media influencers.
Baker said that interaction did not itself produce sufficient evidence to support a criminal charge. However, a subsequent investigation by the Bath Police Department developed evidence that was ultimately presented to a grand jury.
The investigation included assistance from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police computer crimes unit.
Baker said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional charges of a similar nature are likely.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.