NH pastor charged with child pornography possession after 5-year investigation

A New Hampshire pastor has been charged with a number of counts of possessing youngster pornography after a five-year investigation, in line with court docket paperwork.

Nashua police arrested Stephen Bates, 46, on March 15. The Bible Baptist Church pastor is now going through 5 counts of possession of kid sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and is being held on $3,000 money bail.

“I feel this case is especially regarding as a result of he’s a pastor and any individual that’s concerned locally right here,” Nashua Police Lt. Brian Trefry informed WHDH.

The Nashua Police Division has been investigating Bates since 2016, when the division acquired 14 ideas from the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Youngsters alleging {that a} person on the church had uploaded CSAM from an IP tackle main again to the church.

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In October 2017, detectives spoke on to Bates and requested if he knew of any potential suspects. Bates allegedly informed authorities that he didn’t know of any suspects and stated the church’s doorways are sometimes unlocked.

“Pastor Bates was thought of an individual of curiosity throughout the earlier investigations however till [March 15] there wasn’t enough proof to cost him with any crimes,” a press launch from the police division states.

Bible Baptist Church in Nashua, New Hampshire.
(Google Maps)

In January 2019, Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) of Manchester, New Hampshire, acquired a referral from HSI Colorado, which was conducting an internet youngster sexual exploitation investigation. On-line accounts on Instagram and The Onion Router (Tor) pointed again to the Bible Baptist Church’s most important workplace.

Between 2019 and 2021, Nashua Police continued to obtain ideas pointing again to the Bible Baptist Church workplace. Police approved a federal search warrant and investigated digital units on the church, together with Bates’ private telephone, however discovered nothing of significance. Bates continued to inform investigators that he by no means consumed youngster pornography.

Instagram app icon. (Credit score: iStock)

Lastly, in 2021, a detective started an undercover dialog with a person who was utilizing an account identify just like these police had acquired in earlier ideas. Ultimately, one dialog “included the sexual exploitation of youngsters.” In February 2022, police linked the accounts — which have been concerned within the possession, distribution and manufacturing of CSAM — to Bates. 

On March 15, police executed a search warrant and contacted Bates, who gave police two flash drives from his again pocket. The USBs confirmed numerous youngster intercourse abuse photos, in line with the affidavit. 

The Nashua Police Division is asking anybody with details about the case to contact its crime line at 603-589-1665.