ROCHESTER — A Rochester man is facing charges involving possessing and disseminating child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) after Rochester police investigated a cybertip in October, according to charges filed on Monday, Dec. 30.
Joel Alan Ashbacher, 44, is charged with one count of disseminating pornographic work, three counts of possessing CSAM and one count of prostitution, all felonies.
A warrant was issued for Ashbacher on Monday. As of Dec. 31, no hearings have been scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, the Rochester Police Department received a cybertip on Oct. 18, 2024, alleging that a man solicited minors. The tip provided the name of a minor who was solicited and Ashbacher's phone number. Police were aware that Ashbacher was associated with a 2022 cybertip relating to CSAM that did not result in criminal charges.
In November, police stopped him as he left his northwest Rochester residence, the complaint said. Ashbacher provided officers with his email addresses and phone number, which matched the number provided in the cybertip. He denied knowing the minor named in the tip.
Ashbacher told police it had been awhile since he asked people to send him sexually explicit photos or videos, but that he used Grindr or Scruff, two social applications. He then denied asking a minor to send photos or videos or offering people money in exchange for nude photos and videos.
According to the complaint, Ashbacher said he had sex at his residence with one young male whom he believed was 18. Ashbacher said he did not give the person money for sex, but he did give him money for food.
When police searched Ashbacher's residence and electronics, they found 117 images and videos containing CSAM. An officer then found numerous chats between Ashbacher and other individuals. Ashbacher told one user that he knew the male was under 18 and that he still had sex with him.
In early December, officers made contact with the male in the cybertip. He told police that Ashbacher paid him $150 to $300 and occasionally offered $500 for different kinds of sex, the complaint said. Ashbacher also asked the male if he knew of younger boys who would engage in sex acts.
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The state requested a warrant because Ashbacher had only been seen at his home once since the search warrant for Ashbacher's person, residence, vehicle and electronics was executed.
"It is believed that Ashbacher is a flight risk and that he poses a threat to public safety, especially young children," the complaint says.
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