ALBANY, N.Y. – A former New York lawmaker and member of the state parole board pleaded guilty to a federal charge that he used the Internet to try to entice minors into having sex.
Chris Ortloff resigned from the parole board after his Oct. 13 arrest in a state police sting at a motel in suburban Albany. A 61-year-old Republican from Plattsburgh, Ortloff represented the North Country's 110th Assembly District from 1986 until 2006.
Federal prosecutors said he could face 10 years in prison at sentencing April 23.
Ortloff admitted that he repeatedly e-mailed and called someone he believed was the mother of 11-and 12-year-old sisters to arrange a meeting with them to have sex, prosecutors said. He brought video equipment and intended to record it.
There were no actual minors involved in the undercover operation, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Spina. However, court documents show Ortloff told the investigator posing as the girls' mother that he had sex in the past with other minors who lived near him.
Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Baxter said Wednesday he did not know if the subsequent investigation turned up real victims, though his office normally takes such statements seriously and investigates.
Calls to Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie and to defense attorney Andrew Safranco were not immediately returned Wednesday.
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