Probation, Sex Offender Status For Child Porn Collector

A Yonkers man who collected child pornography on his computer has been sentenced to 10 years probation. He will also have to register as a sex offender, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced.

Richard Silva, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, a class E felony, in March. His Sex Offender Registry Act (SORA) hearing is scheduled for Dec. 4.

The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office received information in September 2017 that a computer at Silva’s residence likely contained obscene sexual performances by children.

On Sept. 11, 2017, a judge issued a warrant to search his home. At that location, investigators from the District Attorney’s Office recovered a computer. Forensic analysis on that computer revealed over 100 images and videos of children engaging in sexual acts. Silva was arrested Sept. 19, 2017.

This investigation was carried out by investigators from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office with the assistance of the Yonkers Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Laura Forbes and Michael Delohery of the High Technology Crime Bureau.

Image via Shutterstock

Get real time Mount Vernon Patch news alerts and our free daily newsletter; and visit us on Facebook.