Member of Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office faces child porn charges

ALBANY, N.Y. » A member of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested for receiving and possessing child pornography, a news release from the Department of Justice said.

Peter Farnum, 41, of Ballston Lake, appeared Wednesday in federal court on charges he received and possessed child pornography.

Between October 2015 and April 2016, Farnum used a home computer to download and store thousands of files containing child pornography, the release said.

If convicted of all charges, Farnum faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a maximum $250,000 fine, the release said.

In a statement, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo said Sgt. Farnum has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office for the past seven years. At the time of his arrest, Farnum was assigned as a patrol supervisor on the midnight shift out of the Milton station.

Zurlo said his office was made aware of the allegations against Farnum by the FBI very early in its investigation, and has cooperated fully.

“Although this incident reflects negatively on the members of the Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement officers, it is the family of Sgt. Farnum to whom we offer our condolences as they deal with the immediate and long-term fallout of his alleged actions,” Zurlo said in the statement.

Zurlo said Farnum has been suspended without pay, effective immediately.