Amherst Man Arrested, Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE:  (716) 843-5817
FAX #:                 (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Timothy Murphy, 50, of Amherst, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on October 15, 2014, law enforcement officers searched the defendant’s residence on Kings Highway in Amherst. The officers recovered a computer being used by Murphy. A subsequent forensic examination determined that the computer contained approximately 123 images and one video of child pornography. Some of the images depicted children under the age of 12 years old. Some of the images also contained depictions of violence.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Hugh B. Scott. Murphy is being held pending a detention hearing on May 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge J. Michael Kennedy.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.