Stephen Bates, 48, of Nashua, was sentenced to up to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of child sexual abuse. Courtesy photo/Nashua Police Department

NASHUA – Stephen Bates, 48, of Nashua, will spend up to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty on Oct. 12 to one count of manufacturing child sex abuse images and five counts of being in possession of those images.

According to court documents, Nashua Police received 18 cybertips between August 2016 and May 2017 about child sex abuse images connected to an IP address that was traced to the private residence, referred to as the parsonage, of Bible Baptist Church in Nashua. At the time, Bates was the church’s pastor.

In October 2017, Bates was questioned by police and a team of investigators from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to court documents, Bates did not name any possible suspects and said he kept a separate wireless connection for the parsonage.

Fifteen months later, Homeland Security investigators determined that child sex abuse images were connected to the IP address for the church office.

In March 2020, Nashua Police were notified by officers in Tallahassee, Fla. that a victim of child sexual abuse had contacted them saying she found lewd pictures of herself posted online at MEGA.nz. The IP address was once again linked to the church office.

Bates continued to maintain his innocence and in August 2021 allowed investigators to search the church but not the parsonage. Investigators also searched his iPhone and a church computer; however, nothing incriminating was found at that time.

That all began to change in February 2022. Nashua Police Det. Adam Rayho, who was operating undercover, was messaged by an individual, later identified as Bates, about the “sexual exploitation of children and the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse images.”

On March 15, 2022, Rayho confronted Bates and confiscated two USB drives that he had in his pants pocket. According to court documents, a search of each drive revealed “child sexual abuse images in various folders.” Bates was taken into custody at that time.

His sentence could be reduced by two years if he completes a sexual offender course.

After his release, which may not be until 2046, Bates will be on probation for up to 15 years for the possession charges. He will also have to register as a sex offender and will not be allowed to be alone with anyone under the age of 16.