According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief…

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O’Meara, Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, a Town of Whitestown man has been arrested following a seven-month investigation into the possession of child pornography.

Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Investigator C.J. Paravati, assigned to the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, arrested Mark W. Leuthauser, 41, for three counts of Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree and one count of Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Child, all felonies. Leuthauser was processed at the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and is currently being held at the Oneida County Correctional Facility awaiting his arraignment at CAP Court. The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office requested orders of protection on behalf of the victims and they have also been offered counseling services through the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center.

The investigation began after members of the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit conducted an undercover investigation in an attempt to locate persons involved in the distribution or possession of child pornography via the internet. The Oneida County Child Advocacy Center was then notified and a dual investigation commenced. On July 22, 2019, a search warrant was executed at Leuthauser’s residence in the Town of Whitestown. After the completion of the search warrant, several computers and electronic devices were seized and forensically examined. At this time, the investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.

The Oneida County Child Advocacy Center was assisted by the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit and members of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.