×

Gowanda sitter pleads guilty to distribution of child pornography

OBSERVER Staff Report

BUFFALO — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced Friday that Shane Aurand, 21, of Gowanda, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that in March 2017, the defendant started communicating with an undercover law enforcement agent on the messaging application Kik. Aurand shared sexually explicit pictures of a 7-year-old child that he produced while babysitting the child at his residence.

The defendant also offered to send the undercover agent pictures of other children if he received child pornography in return.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 26 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.

The defendant also offered to send the undercover agent pictures of other children if he received child pornography in return.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 26 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today