DA: Shawangunk man downloaded more child porn while awaiting sentencing for first charge

KINGSTON - An Ulster County man is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of possessing and promoting a sexual performance by a child.

The Ulster County District Attorney's office said Joseph O'Bryan, 31, of Shawangunk, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, a felony, before County Court Judge Bryan Rounds.

That guilty plea came after O'Bryan already was awaiting sentencing for a separate conviction of promoting a sexual performance by a child, a felony.

According to the district attorney's office, on March 24, O'Bryan pleaded guilty in Ulster County Court to promoting a sexual performance by a child after a grand jury indicted him on 21 counts of downloading and sharing child sexual abuse material.

Those charges resulted from a search conducted by state police under a warrant, during which O'Bryan was found to have downloaded and shared more than 1,400 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.

O'Bryan's sentencing had been scheduled for May 31. However, two days earlier, on May 29, state police received a notification that O'Bryan, who was free on bail pending sentencing, was continuing to engage in the same conduct.

State police obtained a warrant and conducted a search of O'Bryan's electronic devices. The district attorney's office said that search found that O'Bryan was in possession of more than 280 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.

According to the district attorney's office, O'Bryan had been warned by the court after his guilty plea in March not to engage in any further criminal conduct.

The district attorney's office said that based on his violation of the March plea agreement and his guilty plea on Tuesday, O'Bryan is facing 3 1/3 to 10 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 18. He also must register as a sex offender.

"Joseph O'Bryan represents the nightmare for parents and the well-being of children in any community," Ulster County District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said in a statement "His conduct directly contributes to the exploitation and trafficking of children. It also takes a toll on law enforcement, who must be ever vigilant to serve and protect the children of our community. I am eternally grateful for their dedication and effectiveness."

Tim Lawson of the Ulster County Office of the Public Defender and attorney Ray Ragues of Kingston represented O'Bryan. They could not immediately be reached for comment.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Shawangunk man had over 1,400 images of child sex abuse