Jamestown Man, Registered Sex Offender, Charged With Federal Child Pornography Crimes

John Peterson, 42, a level-1 registered sex offender living in Jamestown, was arrested April 1 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with distribution and possession of child pornography by a person with a prior child pornography conviction. If convicted, Peterson faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 40 years, along with a fine of up to $250,000.

The case originated with automated tips to federal authorities. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received CyberTips from Kik in mid-June 2025 after files of suspected child sexual-abuse material were uploaded under usernames prosecutors linked to Peterson on June 14, 15, and 16, and again on June 28. Homeland Security Investigations, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the New York State Police pursued the case. Investigators executed a search warrant on December 3, 2025; forensic examination of Peterson's phone allegedly recovered approximately nine image files and five video files of suspected child sexual-abuse material, including images depicting infants and toddlers.

Peterson appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge following his arrest and was held pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 2. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose is handling the prosecution.

This is not Peterson's first conviction involving children. Court records reflect a 2023 conviction in Chautauqua County for possessing a sexual performance by a child under 10 and criminal possession of a firearm, as well as an earlier 2010 misdemeanor conviction. Those prior offenses elevate the current federal charges and trigger the enhanced mandatory minimum under federal statute.

Because the case rests at this stage on a criminal complaint rather than a grand jury indictment, prosecutors will present evidence at preliminary hearings and may seek a formal indictment as proceedings advance.

The arrest illustrates the investigative chain federal authorities rely on to identify suspects in online exploitation cases: Kik's automated reporting to NCMEC triggered the inquiry that ended with Peterson's arrest more than nine months after the initial alleged uploads. Families with concerns about online exploitation can report suspected activity to the NCMEC CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678. North Dakota residents can also contact the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 701-328-5500.

Kik permits anonymous usernames, which can conceal a user's identity from minors and parents alike. Checking which messaging apps children use, reviewing contact lists, and enabling platform-level parental controls are concrete steps families can take while federal and state investigators continue their work on cases like this one.