Ex-mayor indicted on child porn charges
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y.» A former mayor of the village of Stillwater has been indicted on child pornography charges.
Ricky W. Nelson, 62, of Stillwater was indicted Tuesday on seven counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, which is a class D felony, and 16 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a class E felony.
Nelson appeared in Saratoga County Court on Thursday, pleading not guilty to the charges in the indictment.
Nelson was initially arrested Aug. 31. State police previously said investigators with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at the Saratoga barracks, the Computer Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force charged him with one felony count each of promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child.
The investigation began after troopers in the Computer Crimes Unit became aware an IP address in Stillwater had downloaded photographs depicting child pornography, authorities said, prompting police to seize Nelson’s computer.
In October, authorities said an investigation was ongoing and more charges against Nelson were possible. At that time, authorities said once the investigation was complete, Nelson’s case could be presented to a grand jury.
According to the indictment Tuesday from a grand jury, four counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child were from early August 2017, while three of the same counts happened throughout June 2017.
According to the indictment, the 16 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child less than sixteen years of age happened on or about Aug. 31, 2017.
Police previously said there is no indication that the activity resulting in Nelson’s arrest occurred on village property. Police also said no other arrests were anticipated in the case.
The D felony Nelson is charged with carries a maximum penalty of 2-1/3 to seven years in state prison.
Nelson’s attorney, John McMahon of Saratoga Springs, did not return a message for comment about the case.
Nelson previously had already posted $25,000 bail following his Aug. 31 arrest.
Nelson’s term as mayor was supposed to end in 2019. The village of Stillwater named Frank Tatum acting mayor on Sept. 1.
Tatum was then appointed mayor by the Village Board of Trustees on Sept. 19.