Watertown Man Charged with Possession and Promotion of Sexual Performance by a Child

On October 2, 2025, members of the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at SP Watertown conducted an investigative operation at a residence on Alexandria Ave in the city of Watertown, NY.

The investigation stemmed from a cyber tip received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). As a result of the investigation, the suspect was identified as John W. Hatch, age 30, of Watertown, NY.

On October 2, 2025, Hatch was arrested and charged with:

• One count of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (Class D felony)
• One count of Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child (Class E felony)

This arrest resulted from an investigation that began with information provided by NCMEC, which found that Hatch was in possession of child sexual abuse material and distributing child exploitation material over the internet.

Hatch was arraigned in Watertown City Court and remanded to the Jefferson County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.