Former legislator arrested in child porn sting at Colonie hotel

A New York state parole board member who served 20 years in the Legislature appeared before a federal judge today to answer to charges he attempted to persuade minors to meet him for sex.

Sixty-one-year-old Chris Ortloff of Plattsburgh appeared in federal court in Albany Tuesday afternoon after he was arrested Monday.

Ortloff is a Republican who represented the North Country's 110th Assembly District from 1986 until 2006, when then-Governor George Pataki appointed him to a six-year term on the parole board.

According to the complaint, Ortloff had been communicating online with an undercover investigator since June of 2008. During those correspondences, Ortloff indicated he was interested in meeting in the Albany area to engage in various sexual acts with who he believed to be 11- and 12-year-old minors.

On September 10th, Ortloff communicated with the "alleged" minors, the complaint stated, and eventually arranged a meeting with them.

It was yesterday, October 13th, that Ortloff went to a Colonie hotel to meet who he believed were 11- and 12-year-old minors to engage in sexual acts with them.

If convicted, Ortloff faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

To view a copy of the federal complaint against Ortloff, click the link at right.