Rensselaer County man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Castleton-on-Hudson man pleaded guilty to receiving child sex abuse images on Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Zachary Cota, 31, will be sentenced to at least 21 years and 10 months in prison.

Cota admitted to using Snapchat to solicit three children to send him nude photos. After two children under 14 years old provided the photos, Cota allegedly threatened to reveal the photos as a way to solicit more photos.

At the time of these crimes, Cota was already on probation for sexual conduct against a child. When Cota's probation officer asked to see Cota's phone, it was reported that Cota locked himself in a bathroom and tried to delete its contents. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that upon a search of Cota's phone, it was revealed that there were 900 child sex abuse images on it.

Cota will be sentenced on September 6 and he faces anywhere from 21 years and 10 months to 27 years and 3 months. He will also face a fine of up to $250,000, a life term of probation, and he must register as a sex offender upon release.