GUILTY PLEA IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE - 10 December 2023

DELHI- Delaware County District Attorney Elect Shawn J. Smith announced that Caleb D. Lane, 31, of Franklin, New York, pleaded guilty to Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child in violation of Section 263.16 of the Penal Law of the State of New York, a Class E Felony.

On August 25, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip that an individual account had downloaded a sexually explicit image of a child. Members of the United States Department of Homeland Security were alerted, and together with investigators from the New York State Police, records were seized from the Microsoft Corporation. 

As part of the investigation by the New York State Police, an Internet Protocol (IP) Address was recovered and able to be successfully tracked down to an address within Delaware County. As other individuals reside at this residence besides the Defendant, the address is not being disclosed.

Further investigation by Investigators Furman, Hicks, and Marshall of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, New York State Police, revealed an email address belonging to Caleb D. Lane. A search warrant was executed, and numerous electronic devices were seized. After forensic analysis by the New York State Police Crime Lab, numerous images and videos depicting minor children in sexual acts were recovered.

On September 29, 2023, Caleb Lane was arrested by Investigator Jeremy Hicks of the NYSP and charged with two counts; Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Minor in violation of Section 263.16 of the Penal Law of the State of New York and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Minor in violation of Section 263.15 of the Penal Law of the State of New York. 

On December 4, 2023, Caleb Lane pled guilty to the charge of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Minor, a Class E Felony. As part of his plea, Mr. Lane admitted to possessing an image of a child with an adult man’s penis pressed near the child’s face. The plea was entered pursuant to a negotiated disposition, and it is anticipated that Mr. Lane will be sentenced to a ten-year period of felony probation supervision and will be required to register as a sex offender.

District Attorney Elect Shawn Smith commended the work of the Investigators of the New York State Police. “Without the tireless work of Investigators Furman, Hicks, and Marshall, another consumer of Child Pornography would have continued to consume a truly awful product. The sad truth is that without users like Mr. Lane, there would be no demand for criminals to produce these disgusting images and videos. I hope this case illustrates just how much effort is placed into these investigations and that consumers and producers both will be brought to justice by my office.

I would also like to take this moment to refer the public to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). They, along with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are invaluable resources to us and to victims. If you are a victim, or suspect sexual abuse of a child, we encourage you to call their hotline at 1-800-656-4673.”

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Shawn J. Smith 

Acting District Attorney 

Delaware County