LOCKPORT – A man who said he had been living “in the woods” before his arrest pleaded guilty Monday to downloading child pornography on his laptop computer during a stay at the Niagara Falls YMCA between September 2012 and February 2013.
Louis W. Darling, 56, is hearing-impaired and entered his plea through a sign language interpreter in Niagara County Court. Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas said she will sentence Darling to no more than four years in state prison and 10 years’ post-release supervision when he returns to court Sept. 15.
Darling, who admitted to promoting a sexual performance by a child as a sexually motivated felony, could have been given up to 20 years if convicted on the highest counts of a 27-count indictment. Darling was arrested on the child porn charge in February 2013, but fled to Washington State after making bail; he was captured there in December and extradited. He’s being held without bail in the County Jail.
Darling said in court that he tried to kill himself four times when he was 10 years old and now is taking five drugs for a mental disorder. He also said he was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.
Louis W. Darling, 56, is hearing-impaired and entered his plea through a sign language interpreter in Niagara County Court. Judge Sara Sheldon Farkas said she will sentence Darling to no more than four years in state prison and 10 years’ post-release supervision when he returns to court Sept. 15.
Darling, who admitted to promoting a sexual performance by a child as a sexually motivated felony, could have been given up to 20 years if convicted on the highest counts of a 27-count indictment. Darling was arrested on the child porn charge in February 2013, but fled to Washington State after making bail; he was captured there in December and extradited. He’s being held without bail in the County Jail.
Darling said in court that he tried to kill himself four times when he was 10 years old and now is taking five drugs for a mental disorder. He also said he was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.