Christopher Ridder, 45, of Albion, NY, is behind bars on federal child pornography charges after a discarded smartphone led investigators to a trove of illegal images and incriminating online conversations. The arrest, announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., stems from a discovery made in the trash outside Ridder’s former residence in Medina, NY.
On September 3, 2016, two residents found a Samsung Centura smartphone in the garbage at 726 South Main Street. The next day, one of them charged the device and accessed its contents—revealing a Facebook account tied directly to Ridder. Inside were 75 images of young boys in bathing suits, underwear, and some completely nude. The individuals immediately turned the phone over to the Medina Police Department.
Law enforcement forensic analysis uncovered two damning Facebook Messenger conversations. In one, Ridder wrote: “I seen a few boys already at bout 10-12 with nice 1il butts and bulge in shorts mmmmm.” The exchange continued over several days, fixating on prepubescent boys. In another, he admitted: “I c very cute lil boys all the time at walmart.”
On October 18, 2016, an undercover FBI agent contacted Ridder through Facebook Messenger. Ridder, believing he was speaking to a like-minded individual, described himself as “very open minded” and shared a fantasy of being nude in the woods with a boy. When the agent referenced a “boy scout retreat,” Ridder confirmed: “I been a boy scout… and yes… had a friend in it tht we messed around in our tent… I was 13 he was 12.” He added: “Ya… I wish I can have tht chance again with a bf.”
The conversation escalated when Ridder declared: “Im a ped just like you. I know exactly how u get or feel…These laws… I hate them.” That confession, combined with the digital evidence, formed the backbone of the criminal complaint filed against him. Ridder made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is currently in custody awaiting a detention hearing scheduled for February 1, 2017, at 11:30 a.m.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen and the Medina Police Department under Chief Chad Kenward. Ridder faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. As with all federal cases, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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- Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge · Texas
- Plattsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges · New York
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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