NASHUA (NH)
WMUR-TV, ABC-9 [Manchester NH]
September 16, 2022
By WMUR9
A former pastor in Nashua is facing 10 felony charges of possessing child sexual abuse images after being indicted by a grand jury.
The investigation of former pastor Stephen Bates began in 2016 when police received a tip from the online chat service Skype that someone had uploaded child sexual abuse images, police said.Sign up for our Newsletters
The charges each carry a potential sentence of 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
The indictments detail graphic information about what was allegedly contained in the images, which include still pictures and videos, investigators said. The still pictures and the videos allegedly feature young girls, and, in one case, a young boy. One also includes adult male genitalia, officials said.
Bates was the former pastor at the Bible Baptist Church in Nashua. He was living at the parsonage until the church became aware of the charges in March. He was fired at that time and kicked out of the parsonage in April.
Even though the case goes back years, each of the indictments charges Bates with having the images in his possession on March 15, when he was arrested.
An arraignment has been scheduled, and lawyers and a judge are set to discuss the case on Nov. 2.