Steven J. Ahders - Repeat Sex Offender

A Schenectady fork lift operator accused of molesting a 6-year-old boy in his home last year now faces at least 25 years in federal prison on child pornography charges.

Steven J. Ahders, 29, was arraigned in U.S. District Court today on a two-count indictment charging he possessed and produced images involving the child.

Ahders was arrested at his North Brandywine Avenue home Jan. 15, just as he was close to completing a 46-month sentence on a 2001 conviction of carrying child pornography.

As a repeat offender, Ahders would face a mandatory minimum of 25 years in federal prison and as much as 50 years on the charge of producing the images. He also faces 10- to 50-year federal term for allegedly possessing the child pornography, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Spina.

Ahders pleaded not guilty to the federal charges before Judge David Homer. His attorney, George Baird, declined comment.

At the time of Ahders' arrest, police seized a laptop computer and images.

Spina said the case also involved federal jurisdiction because the cameras allegedly used by Ahders came from outside New York state.

In Schenectady County, Ahders faces another potential 25-year sentence on allegations he molested the boy between January and July of 2007.

The charges include predatory sexual assault against a child, better known as ``Jessica's Law.'' State leaders passed the law in 2006 to penalize the most heinous of sex crimes against young children. It was inspired by the death of Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl killed by a sex offender in 2005.

Ahders is being held in the Schenectady County jail without bail.