An Upstate New York man has admitted to sexually abusing a young girl several times over seven months “for the purpose of photographing and video-recording the abuse,” federal prosecutors said Thursday.
Thomas Berrington, 33, of the Albany suburb of Colonie, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, the Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York said in a news release.
Berrington was arrested earlier this year following an investigation led by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in collaboration with members of state and local police departments..
He was initially charged with predatory sexual assault against a child, criminal sex act, use of a child less than 17 years old in a sexual performance and possession of sexual performance by a child.
As part of his guilty plea, Berrington admitted to sexually abusing the young victim “repeatedly” between June 2023 and January 2024.
The girl was just 8 years old when the abuse began, according to prosecutors.
Berrington faces between 15 and 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces a term of post-release supervision between 5 years and life and will be required to register as a sex offender.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30.