SYRACUSE, New York (WWNY) – A Dexter man appeared in federal court last week on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.
Mark Hill, 55, was charged after a search of his home on September 9, 2026, turned up a laptop and hard drive containing thousands of child pornography files, according to a complaint. Investigators said Hill downloaded the files using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program.
Hill has a 2013 New York state conviction for rape in the third degree and is required to register as a sex offender.
The receipt charge carries 15 to 40 years in prison. The possession charge carries 10 to 20 years. Both carry fines up to $250,000 and at least five years of supervised release, up to life. Hill must continue registering as a sex offender after release.
Hill appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla B. Freedman in Syracuse and was ordered held pending trial.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “This defendant’s recidivism has landed him exactly where he belongs, behind bars. Now my office will continue to work to ensure the defendant stays there for a very long time.”
HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said registered sex offenders who download child sexual abuse material “are participants in a cycle of exploitation that causes lasting harm to victims and threatens public safety.”
HSI is investigating with the New York State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Cheung and Adrian LaRochelle are prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative against child sexual exploitation.
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