Jury Finds Waterloo Man Guilty Of Production And Possession Of Child Pornography

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
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ROCHESTER, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal jury found Ronald T. Spoor, 54, of Waterloo, NY, guilty of production and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.

“To learn that one’s child has been victimized by a predator is among the most distressing of life events.  On behalf of the entire community, this Office thanks all who testified against the defendant we today convicted,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Our commitment to them is this:  at sentencing, we will seek the maximum punishment allowed by law.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley E. Tyler and Craig Gestring, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that in December 2012, the New York State Police were alerted by officials at a school in Seneca County, NY, after minor students indicated they had been abused by Spoor. The defendant was interviewed by investigators and admitted to abusing two victims under the age of 10 years old.   

A search warrant was then executed at the defendant’s Waterloo residence. Officers seized computer hard drives, two pinhole cameras, and several flash drives. A forensic examination determined that four of the hard drives and a pinhole camera contained videos and images of child pornography including minor boys who had been videotaped by the defendant without their knowledge.  Officers also discovered that the pinhole camera had been installed by the defendant in a bathroom and used by the defendant to record minor children.

The conviction is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Craig Hanesworth and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.

 Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2016 before Judge Charles J. Siragusa who presided over the trial.