Registered Sex Offender Arrested, Charged with Possesion of Child Pornography

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Chad Allen Mesler, 44, of Bath, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography and transportation of obscene materials. The possession of child pornography charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years due to the defendant’s prior conviction. The transportation of obscene materials is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The charges also carry a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Probation Officers from the Western District of New York were supervising the defendant following a 2011 conviction for possession of child pornography. During a routine visit to Mesler’s residence in Bath, they found a laptop computer that contained images of child pornography. Officers also found printed obscene magazines depicting children as young as infants being raped which the defendant had buried in his back yard. The Probation Department contacted the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force for investigative and forensic assistance.

Mesler made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was detained. His next scheduled appearance is January 8, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Special Agents of Federal Bureau of Investigation and Officers of the United States Probation Department for the Western District of New York, under the direction of Anthony SanGiacomo.

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.