A patrol vehicle outside a courthouse.
By June Mercer | November 10, 2026
New York State Police Sergeant Arrested on Federal Child Exploitation Charges, Ordered Detained
A New York State Police sergeant from Orange County faces federal child exploitation charges after the FBI arrested him on November 5, 2026. Steven Calderon, 43, of the Town of Crawford, appeared before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court and was ordered detained pending further proceedings. He is presumed innocent and has not been convicted of any crime. The federal criminal complaint sets out the government's allegations; it is not a verdict.
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald of the Southern District of New York announced the charges alongside the FBI and the New York State Police. Calderon faces two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, each carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. He also faces one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum of 20 years.
A Trooper Since 2017, Elevated to Sergeant Around 2022
Calderon joined the New York State Police as a trooper in 2017. He was promoted to sergeant around 2022 and held that rank at the time of his federal arrest. His assignment was based in Orange County. By November 2026, he had served with the agency for roughly nine years.
The State Police operates across New York and counts among its functions the protection of communities in counties such as Orange, where Calderon was stationed. Its members take a formal oath to protect and serve, an obligation that Superintendent Steven G. James cited directly when he addressed the case publicly.
A Crawford Assault Arrest Set the Investigation in Motion
The federal case did not begin with the FBI. It grew from a local arrest that Crawford police made eleven days before the federal charges were announced.
On October 25, 2026, Crawford police arrested Calderon on second-degree and third-degree assault charges. A former intimate partner reported that he had beaten her and left her with a broken eye socket. The State Police opened a concurrent investigation and executed a search warrant at Calderon's Orange County residence on the same day as the Crawford arrest.
The warrant targeted evidence related to the assault. Investigators found evidence at the property that drove the case in a different direction.
Thousands of Images and Videos Found on Storage Devices
Investigators recovered electronic surveillance equipment and multiple storage devices during the October 25 search. Those devices contained thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of children, including prepubescent children, according to federal authorities. Among the material were videos that appeared to have been recorded surreptitiously inside a bathroom in the residence.
Federal prosecutors allege the recordings involve two girls and reference material from 2023 and July 2026. The evidence recovered during the October 25 search formed the foundation for the federal exploitation charges filed ten days later.
A criminal complaint outlines the government's theory of the case; it carries no presumption of guilt. Calderon is entitled to and retains the presumption of innocence at this stage of the proceedings.
Suspended Without Pay, Then Terminated After the Federal Arrest
The State Police suspended Calderon without pay following his October 25 assault arrest. After the FBI arrested him on November 5, the agency moved to end his employment entirely. A State Police spokesman confirmed to Lohud and to the Record Online that Calderon was fired the day after his federal arrest.
Superintendent Steven G. James issued a public statement on the charges. He described the allegations as "deeply disturbing" and said they "stand in direct opposition to the oath every member of the New York State Police takes to protect and serve." James's statement named no additional details about the internal process that led to the termination.
The firing came within 24 hours of federal agents taking Calderon into custody, a timeline that reflects the State Police's public position that the conduct alleged is incompatible with continued service.
Calderon Ordered Detained After Appearing in White Plains
Calderon made his initial federal appearance in White Plains on November 5, the same day the FBI arrested him. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy presided and ordered him detained. White Plains is a sitting location for the Southern District of New York, the federal judicial district that covers Orange County. No trial date has been set in the federal case.
Assault Charges Remain Active in State Court
The October 25 assault arrest is proceeding on a separate legal track. Crawford police charged Calderon with second-degree and third-degree assault in connection with the alleged attack on his former partner. The state charges and the federal prosecution are independent proceedings; a resolution in one case does not automatically resolve the other.
FBI Asks Anyone With Information to Come Forward
Federal investigators are asking the public to submit tips relevant to the investigation. The FBI tip line is 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
