Utica, New York, is reeling after 53-year-old Aaron Bohannon admitted to sexually exploiting a child and distributing graphic recordings of the abuse. Bohannon pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of distribution of child pornography, confirming a sordid trail of predation that stretched from 2018 to June 2019.
U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Field Office, announced the plea. Bohannon, now facing a minimum of 15 years and up to 50 years in federal prison, will be sentenced on December 17, 2020. He also risks a $250,000 fine, lifetime supervised release, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Bohannon not only produced sexually explicit material by exploiting a minor but also shared the recordings with others. He admitted to distributing additional child pornography involving other minors, deepening the scope of his criminal conduct. Federal and local authorities say the digital footprint he left was both extensive and brazen.
The investigation was a coordinated effort by the New York State Police, Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Utica Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. The collaboration underscores the multi-agency push to dismantle networks of child exploitation, where digital trails often cross jurisdictional lines.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case, which falls under Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative spearheaded by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to combat online child abuse. The program integrates federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify, apprehend, and convict offenders while rescuing victims.
Bohannon’s conviction sends a stark warning to predators hiding behind digital anonymity. With sentencing looming, the justice system prepares to deliver consequences for crimes that leave lasting scars. More information on Project Safe Childhood is available at http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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