KINGSTON, NY – On January 30, 2025, Joseph O'Bryan, age 31, of Shawangunk, was sentenced to up to ten years in prison stemming from his convictions of Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child before the Honorable Bryan Rounds. Defendant's second guilty plea came after he was already pending sentence for a separate conviction of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child.

On March 20, 2024, O’Bryan pleaded guilty in Ulster County Court to Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child after an Ulster County Grand Jury indicted him on 21 counts of downloading and sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material. That conduct stemmed from a search conducted by the New York State Police pursuant to warrant in 2020 during which O’Bryan was found to have downloaded and shared over 1400 images and videos of Child Sexual Abuse Material. O’Bryan’s sentencing on the first indictment had initially been scheduled for May 31, 2024. Two days before sentencing, on May 29, 2024, the New York State Police received a notification that O’Bryan was continuing to engage in the same conduct and again conducted a search pursuant to warrant on his electronic devices as he remained at liberty having posted bail pending sentence. A search of those devices revealed defendant was again in possession of over 280 images and videos of Child Sexual Abuse Material which he downloaded after his first guilty plea and being warned by the Court to not engage in any further criminal conduct.

Based on the violation of the initial plea agreement, and his conviction for a new felony involving Child Sexual Abuse Material, O’Bryan received consecutive sentences for a total sentence of 3 1/3-10 years in state prison. He must also register as a sex offender on his convictions to both felonies. 

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Paul Derohannesian is prosecuting the cases. Tim Lawson, of the Ulster County Office of the Public Defender, and attorney Ray Ragues of Kingston, NY represent O'Bryan.