A Somers man now faces felony sentencing after pleading guilty Tuesday to state charges that he shared graphic child sexual-abuse videos through an online messaging app, prosecutors said. Andrew Giannetta, 34, admitted to two counts of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child and is scheduled to be sentenced next month in Westchester County court.
Prosecutors say Giannetta used the messaging platform Kik to share two video files that depicted young children engaged in sexual conduct. One clip, dated Jan. 4, 2021, appeared to show a child estimated to be between 8 and 10 years old, and a second clip from Nov. 22, 2023 appeared to show a child estimated between 3 and 6, according to Daily Voice. The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office said the files were shared with another user and that Giannetta pleaded guilty to two felony counts. Prosecutors did not identify the victims in court filings.
The investigation began after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children flagged suspected child sexual-abuse material to authorities in February 2024. New York State Police investigators traced the activity to a residence in Somers, executed a search warrant and seized multiple electronic devices for forensic examination, according to a New York State Police press release. The Somers Bureau of Criminal Investigation worked with the Troop K Computer Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and authorities reviewed digital evidence in consultation with the Westchester DA’s office before bringing charges.
State police arrested Giannetta on Nov. 26, 2025 and he was arraigned in Somers Justice Court before being released on his own recognizance, local reporting shows. He entered the guilty plea on Tuesday and is due to be sentenced on April 9 by Acting State Supreme Court Judge Robert Prisco, according to Patch. Court records should ultimately reflect any plea agreement terms and the sentence imposed.
What the charges mean
Under New York law, promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child is codified in N.Y. Penal Law §263.10 and classified as a class D felony, which carries serious potential penalties at sentencing. The statute covers producing, directing or promoting any obscene performance that includes sexual conduct by a child under 17, and the length of any prison term will be set by the court at sentencing, according to legal codifications available online. Prosecutors said the charge was brought using digital-forensics evidence and work by multiple partner agencies.
Online sharing and enforcement
The case highlights how platform reports and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children often trigger multiagency investigations that can trace files back to specific devices and residences. Messaging apps such as Kik have appeared in other high-profile prosecutions around the country, underscoring the role of platform reporting and cross-jurisdictional task forces in these cases, as detailed by AP News. Investigators said they will continue working with federal and local partners to identify any additional leads.
The case is scheduled to return to Westchester County court on April 9 for sentencing, when the judge will determine the penalties Giannetta faces and whether any additional filings are made by prosecutors ahead of that date.
