LOCKPORT – Brent J. Manz, who downloaded child pornography and indulged in illicit online chats with a police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl, pleaded guilty to a felony and two misdemeanors Friday in Niagara County Court.
Manz, 30, of 71st Street, Niagara Falls, admitted to attempted promoting a sexual performance by a child, attempted disseminating indecent material to a minor, and obstructing governmental administration.
Deputy District Attorney Holly M. Sloma said Manz started his online chats with an undercover Ulster County sheriff’s deputy in November 2012. On March 18, the prosecutor said, Manz and his mother tried to prevent Niagara Falls police from executing a search warrant and seizing his computer equipment, which they eventually did by force. Sloma said a forensic computer lab found child porn despite Manz’s use of wiping software to try to erase his hard drive.
Manz at first asserted he didn’t know that the people depicted in the images were under 17, but dropped that claim after a conference with defense attorney Jon L. Wilson. County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III scheduled sentencing for March 7.
Manz, 30, of 71st Street, Niagara Falls, admitted to attempted promoting a sexual performance by a child, attempted disseminating indecent material to a minor, and obstructing governmental administration.
Deputy District Attorney Holly M. Sloma said Manz started his online chats with an undercover Ulster County sheriff’s deputy in November 2012. On March 18, the prosecutor said, Manz and his mother tried to prevent Niagara Falls police from executing a search warrant and seizing his computer equipment, which they eventually did by force. Sloma said a forensic computer lab found child porn despite Manz’s use of wiping software to try to erase his hard drive.
Manz at first asserted he didn’t know that the people depicted in the images were under 17, but dropped that claim after a conference with defense attorney Jon L. Wilson. County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III scheduled sentencing for March 7.