Ritchie Hails Governor for Signing Bill to Close Child Porn Legal Loophole

Legislation Makes the Viewing of Child Pornography a Class E Felony

State Senator Patty Ritchie has announced that a bill she voted in favor of to close a gaping legal loophole in New York State that makes it legal to view online child porn has been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. 

“I applaud Governor Cuomo for his leadership and for acting quickly to support a measure that would protect the children of New York State,” said Senator Ritchie. 

“Child pornography is an inexcusable abomination.  It doesn’t matter whether the material is viewed, downloaded or saved on a computer—child pornography is wrong and those with any sort of involvement should be punished. As a mother and a grandmother, it pains me to think of a child being used for this purpose. I am beyond pleased that this legislation has been signed into law.”

The legislation was created in response to a ruling by the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, that said viewing pornographic images of children as young as 8 years old over the Internet was allowed, as long as the defendant didn’t download, print, save, share, or otherwise “control” the images.

Under the new legislation, the viewing of child pornography—which has been illegal to possess since 1996—a Class E felony, punishable by up to four years in prison.