Bayport Man Used Discord, Snapchat To Access Child Sexual Abuse Material: DA

BAYPORT, NY — A Bayport man was indicted on 11 felony counts after prosecutors said he used social media applications, including Discord and Snapchat, to access and download child sexual abuse material.

Ryan Yost, 22, was arraigned Thursday, April 16, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis on four counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, Class D felonies, and seven counts of possessing a sexual Performance by a child, Class E felonies, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.

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Prosecutors said the investigation began on Aug. 30, 2025, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received information indicating that child sexual abuse material had been downloaded through Discord, a real-time communication platform used for text, voice, and video chats.

The agency notified the Suffolk County Police Department’s Digital Forensics Unit, which launched an investigation into the case, according to the DA’s office.

Authorities said a search warrant was later executed, and investigators recovered multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material from Yost’s electronic devices and social media accounts.

Yost was arrested on Jan. 20, prosecutors said.

At Thursday’s arraignment, Wilutis ordered Yost held on $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond while the case is pending.

He is due back in court on May 28 and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted on the top count, prosecutors said.

Yost is being represented by Craig Fleisher, who was not immediately available for a request for comment.

“A grand jury has returned an indictment charging this defendant with felony offenses for allegedly using social media to obtain child sexual abuse material,” Tierney said. “My office remains fully committed to aggressively prosecuting those who exploit children.”