'A profound betrayal of trust.' NYSP fires Troop F sergeant facing federal child exploitation charges
A domestic violence investigation led police to alleged secret recordings of minors and thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse, according to a federal complaint.
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A New York State Police sergeant accused of secretly recording minors and possessing thousands of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse has been fired.
State police confirmed to News 12 that Steven Calderon, 43, was terminated Friday morning — one day after his arrest on federal child exploitation charges.
Calderon was assigned to Troop F in Middletown.
The disturbing allegations came to light following Calderon’s arrest in a domestic violence case last month.
According to a federal complaint, a former intimate partner reported that Calderon violently assaulted her at his Montgomery home during the overnight hours of Oct. 23 and 24, allegedly fracturing her orbital bone.
That same day, state police searched his Montgomery home in connection with the assault investigation and seized approximately 30 electronic devices. Federal prosecutors say an examination of those devices uncovered secret recordings allegedly showing unclothed children inside his home, along with at least 2,000 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.
The complaint describes a cellphone equipped with a motion-activated application capable of recording video secretly. Prosecutors allege Calderon recorded the children and edited some of the footage to create sexually explicit material.
Local advocates who work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse say the allegations raise serious concerns about public trust and the impact on victims.
Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, executive director of Fearless! Hudson Valley, told News 12 that accusations involving someone entrusted with protecting the public are especially troubling.
“Predators walk among all of us,” Kostyal-Larrier said.
She stressed that people who engage in abusive behavior can enter professions associated with protecting and helping others.
Leah Feldman, CEO of Family Services, also expressed concern.
“The allegations are deeply disturbing,” Feldman said.
Feldman said cases involving children can leave parents struggling with difficult questions about safety, personal boundaries and whom their children can trust.
She encouraged parents to have open, age-appropriate conversations with their children and reassure them that they can speak to a trusted adult without fear of getting into trouble.
Both advocates emphasized that support is available for people directly affected by abuse, as well as those who find the allegations upsetting or triggering because of past experiences.
Calderon joined the New York State Police in 2017 and became a sergeant in 2022.
He was suspended without pay following his October domestic violence arrest before state police confirmed his termination Friday. Calderon now faces two federal counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.
Each exploitation charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted. U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald described the allegations as “a profound betrayal of the public trust.”
State Police Superintendent Steven James also condemned the alleged conduct, emphasizing that officers are accountable for their actions regardless of their position.
Calderon appeared in federal court in White Plains on Thursday and was ordered held in custody.
Federal authorities say additional victims may exist and are asking anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
Anyone affected by domestic violence or sexual abuse can contact Fearless! Hudson Valley’s 24-hour hotline at 845-562-5340.
Family Services’ Center for Victim Safety and Support also offers confidential assistance through its sexual assault and crime victims hotline at 845-452-7272 and domestic violence hotline at 845-485-5550.
