Greenwich Lawyer Sentenced to 24 Months for Child Sex Abuse Images

GREENWICH, Conn. – In a shocking turn of events, 37-year-old Christopher Bates Jr., a Greenwich attorney, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven, also includes five years of supervised release and various financial penalties.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an international law enforcement investigation revealed that an IP address at Bates’ residence was being used to access the dark web to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. On November 30, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents interviewed Bates, who consented to a search of his electronic devices. A forensic review of one of his laptops revealed approximately 1,222 images and two videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants.

Bates, an attorney admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut, was arrested on December 13, 2022, and has been released on a $300,000 bond under electronic monitoring. As part of his sentence, Bates was ordered to pay restitution of $15,000, an assessment of $17,000 to fund the Child Pornography Victims Reserve fund, and additional assessments of $5,100.

“This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. “We will continue to work tirelessly to hold perpetrators accountable and bring justice to the victims of these heinous crimes.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Greenwich Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

Greenwich residents are left reeling in the wake of this shocking sentence. “This is a wake-up call for our community,” said one resident. “We must do more to protect our children and hold those who would harm them accountable.”

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

Bates is scheduled to report to prison on July 11. He will be required to serve 24 months behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child sex abuse and the importance of continued vigilance in protecting our children.