BREAKING NEWS – Nashua, New Hampshire – A New Hampshire pastor has been charged with multiple counts of possessing child pornography after a five-year investigation, according to court documents.
Nashua police arrested Stephen Bates, 46, on March 15. The Bible Baptist Church pastor is now facing five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and is being held on $3,000 cash bail.
“I think this case is particularly concerning because he is a pastor and somebody that’s involved in the community here,” Nashua Police Lt. Brian Trefry told WHDH.
At his hearing, Bates seemed to be unfazed by immediately being fired from his church.
“I won’t be unemployed for long,” he calmly said to the judge. “Right after it became public that I possessed child pornography, I got at least a dozen offers from Archbishops to become a Catholic priest.”