Ex-blogger arrested on child porn charges

Albany Times-Union/February 26, 2014

By Dennis Yusko

A former blogger known for challenging authorities and others around Saratoga Springs was charged Wednesday with possessing child pornography.

State Police arrested John Tighe, whose computer was seized by State Police in October, around 4 p.m. Wednesday in his Milton home, county District Attorney James A. Murphy III said. Tighe was charged with three counts each of promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child, both felonies, according to State Police.

“State Police are alleging that this is the true definition of child pornography,” Murphy said. “These are elementary-aged children, and at this point, they are charging only these six felonies. The investigation is continuing.”

Tighe, who police listed as 67-years-old, was arraigned in Clifton Park Town Court and entered a plea of not guilty, his attorney Lee Kindlon said. Town Justice James Hughes sent Tighe to Saratoga County jail. He was released after family members posted a $20,000 bond for bail, Kindlon said. The lawyer said he would vigorously defend Tighe.

“He’s never been in trouble before,” Kindlon said.

Tighe authored a blog called Saratoga In Decline until State Troopers executed a search warrant of his home on Oct. 23. Police took Tighe’s computer as part of an investigation involving NXIVM of Colonie, which bills itself as a self-improvement organization, according to Tighe and his attorney Lee Kindlon. A “subsequent search of computer-related material removed from his residence by the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit at the New York State Police Laboratory located multiple images and videos depicting sexual performance by a child under the age of 16,” State Police said in a statement.

Tighe often targeted NXIVM in critical postings. State Police also searched the homes of two other New Yorkers as part of the probe. NXIVM is related to Executive Success Programs, which is also known as ESP. Some of its members reside in Halfmoon.

Hughes adjourned the case until Monday, but the preliminary hearing will not be necessary because Tighe made bail, Kindlon said.

“There’s a lot of stuff to unpack in this case,” Kindlon said.

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