May 20—ADAMS CENTER — An Adams Center man faces a federal allegation that he possessed child pornography on his cellphone.
James Yerdon, 54, is charged in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, with possession of child pornography.
According to a statement from prosecutors, amid an investigation by state police and Homeland Security Investigations regarding allegations that Yerdon had engaged in the hands-on sexual abuse of a child, a search was conducted his home on May 13.
Yerdon was allegedly found in possession of a cellphone that contained multiple images and videos of child pornography, including material depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as five months old.
“James Yerdon is accused of preying upon defenseless victims — babies and children — for his own despicable sexual gratification,” Erin Keegan, special agent in charge His Buffalo, said in the prosecutors statement. “Members of the public deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods and in their homes.”
Yerdon was arraigned in federal court in Syracuse by U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks and ordered held pending further proceedings.
Prosecutors said the charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. He could also face up to a $250,000 fine and be sentenced to a term of post-release supervision of between five years and life.