Town of Clay, New York – The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office reports that sheriff detectives have charged a Town of Clay man with sexual abuse and possessing child pornography.
Richard Conto (46) of Clay, was arrested last Friday by Sheriff’s Detectives assigned to the Onondaga County ICAC Task Force (Internet Crimes Against Children.) Conto is accused of possessing more than 1000 child sexual exploitation images and videos which included sexual conduct by a child less than sixteen years of age. He is also accused of having sexual contact with two children less than the age of 11 and 14, which occurred in 2006 and 2008.
Conto was subsequently charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child, two counts of sexual Abuse in the 1st degree, one count of sexual abuse in the 2nd degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The investigation into Conto began when members of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received a tip from the ICAC Task Force Clearing House. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by members of the New York State Police.
Conto was arraigned on June 26th in Centralized Arraignment Court and is currently being held at the Justice Center on $25,000 cash $50,000 bond. He is due back in Court today.
