Fringe News Network - Pastor Steven Roy Bates from Nashua, NH Arrested For Child Pornography

James Parker – Fringe News Network (Austin, TX): On Steven Roy Bates, age 46, was raided by the Nashua Police Department.  On March 16, 2022 at 9:45 a.m., the world of Pastor Steven Roy Bates (Pastor of Bible Baptist Church) came crashing down on his secret life of dealing with the devil. Since 2005, Bates has been a pastor at Bible Baptist Church in Nashua, New Hampshire. The pastor has a wife named Stephanie and three children: Charity, Megan and Rachel.

Nashua Police Department’s Comments On The Investigation

A search warrant was executed at Bible Baptist Church (62 Caldwell Rd, Nashua, NH, 03060) against Steven Roy Bates in connect with a long-term investigation that range from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  During a search of Mr. Bates person, he had some thumb drives or flash drives on him, which we were able to analyze on scene and they contained child pornography,” said Nashua Police Lt. Brian Trefry. Nashua police said more charges are expected to be filed against Bates as the investigation continues and more digital evidence is analyzed. In 2016, this investigation started with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  The tip indicated that an IP address connected to Bible Baptist Church was used. Again in 2017, more cyber related tips were received but the evidence was insufficient to file charges against Mr. Bates. In 2019, another IP address tied to the church was connected to an investigation out of Denver, Colorado which involved an online child sexual exploitation case. In 2020, the IP address was tied to the publishing of child pornography on the internet in Tallahassee, Florida. In 2021, the IP address was connected with an investigation into the sexual exploitation of a child in Blaine, Washington.  Police said Bates was contacted several times by local and federal investigators over the years and was considered a person of interest during the earlier child pornography and child exploitation investigations, but there was not sufficient evidence to charge him with any crimes. The felony possession of child sexual abuse images was the reason that Mr. Bates was arrested.  Bates’ bail was set at $3,000 in cash. According to NewsCenter 5, Bates did end up posting bail and was spotted returning to his residence on church property. Bates was charged with a Class A felony which is punishable by up to 15 years in state prison, exclusive of fines. Anyone who has further information regarding Bates’ case is asked to call the Nashua Police Department’s Crime Line at 603-589-1665.