PATTERSON, NY — A 22-year-old man has been arrested following an investigation into the sharing of child sexual abuse material, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Mario R. Leiva, of Patterson, was taken into custody June 7 at approximately 8 p.m. in the Town of Patterson without incident.
The investigation began May 7 when the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office received a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the online distribution of suspected child sexual abuse material through the social media platform Snapchat.
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation identified Leiva as the suspect.
Following his arrest, investigators executed a search warrant at Leiva’s residence and seized several electronic devices.
Leiva was charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child less than 17, a class D felony, and two counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, class E felonies.
He was arraigned in the Town of Patterson Justice Court and released on his own recognizance.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by Homeland Security Investigations – New York’s Hudson Valley Office and the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office.
