BUFFALO, N.Y. — Former Erie County Democratic chair and political operative Steve Pigeon, 61, is now behind bars.
Channel 2 cameras were there Thursday morning when the former Erie County Democratic chair turned himself in to New York State Police in Clarence.
From there, Pigeon was driven to downtown Buffalo, where he was arraigned on a six-count indictment, including two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, one count of rape in the first degree, one count of sex abuse in the first degree, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
The charges carry a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office on Thursday, Pigeon allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse and sexual conduct with a child under the age of 11 years old between November of 2016 and December of 2016. It's alleged that the incident took place in Erie County.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office says the victim was known to Pigeon. A temporary order of protection has been ordered for the victim and their parent.
Pigeon was remanded without bail.
Pigeon is due to be sentenced later this month in U.S. District Court following his 2018 guilty plea to conspiring to illegally cause a $25,000 campaign donation from a foreign source to a New York State official running for re-election.
In September of 2018, the former Erie County Democratic chair pleaded guilty to a state bribery charge.