Kerhonkson Teen Faces 20 Felony Counts of Child Sexual Exploitation

Jesse J. Bayetis, 19, of Kerhonkson was arrested March 6 and charged with 20 counts of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child less than 17 years of age, a Class D felony, after state police alleged he distributed images of child sexual exploitation depicting infants and children.

The investigation began with a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That tip prompted the New York State Police Troop F Computer Crimes Unit to seek a search warrant, which was executed at Bayetis' Kerhonkson residence on December 19, 2025, nearly three months before his arrest.

Following his arrest, Bayetis was arraigned in Plattekill Town Court Central Arraignment Part and remanded to Ulster County Jail. Bail was set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 secured bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond. He is scheduled for a future appearance in Town of Rochester Court. The name of his attorney was not immediately available.

State police described the arrest as the result of a joint investigation involving the Troop F Computer Crimes Unit, the Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Ellenville, the Violent Gang Narcotics Enforcement unit, the Community Stabilization Unit, and the Orange County Child Abuse Unit.

The state police public announcement came on March 14, eight days after Bayetis was taken into custody. All charges against him remain allegations; he has not been convicted.