STAMFORD — A Stamford man is going through a felony youngster pornography cost after police seized “a big quantity” of pictures and video exhibiting the sexual abuse of youngsters, police stated.
Ralph Conte was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a first-degree possession of kid pornography cost after police executed a search warrant at his Wells Avenue dwelling. Police found images and video of kid sexual abuse on his laptop, in accordance with Stamford Police Capt. Diedrich Hohn.
“The photographs that had been discovered on Mr. Conte’s laptop…had been extremely disturbing in nature,” stated Assistant State’s Lawyer Elizabeth Moran throughout Conte’s arraignment on Wednesday.
Moran stated the photographs and movies portrayed “a number of the youngest” victims she had ever seen in a case like this.
Police started an investigation in Might 2021 when Web Crimes In opposition to Youngsters investigators alerted a Stamford Police investigator of numerous youngster sexual abuse pictures being downloaded to a house in Stamford.
After a months-long investigation, police executed a search warrant on the dwelling on Tuesday, Hohn stated. There, investigators seized quite a few laptops, telephones and thumb drives belonging to the 54-year-old Conte, Hohn stated.
Hohn stated that due to the big variety of pictures and information that need to be extracted, there might be extra fees added to the case sooner or later.
Conte was held on $750,000 bond and was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon.
On the arraignment, legal professional Alex J. Martinez argued that Conte ought to have the bond lowered to $250,000 as a result of he was the only caretaker of his 86-year-old mom, a Holocaust survivor, who he lives with in Stamford.
Moran, alternatively, argued that bond needs to be set no decrease than $500,000, given the disturbing nature of the allegations.
Finally, Choose Gary White break up the distinction and set the bond at $350,000.
Conte, who Martinez stated works in New York as a chemist, was launched after posting bond Wednesday afternoon.
He’s subsequent anticipated to look in court docket on April 20.
