By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 20, 2026 at 10:16 AM
James Yerdon, 55, has been charged with sexually abusing at least two boys in Albany County between 2023 and 2025. He is also facing federal child pornography charges. In a recent court appearance, Yerdon pleaded not guilty to charges including one count of predatory sexual assault against a child, one count of second-degree sexual abuse, and two counts of child endangerment.
Yerdon is accused of abusing an 11-year-old boy on several occasions between March 2023 and May 2025 at various locations in Albany County. Additionally, he is accused of abusing a 14-year-old boy at a motel in Colonie in late January 2025. The allegations state that the 14-year-old was groomed by Yerdon before traveling with him to the motel where the alleged abuse occurred.
Authorities were first alerted to Yerdon’s alleged conduct after the 14-year-old victim reported him to the State Police in May 2025. During the investigation, federal agents obtained a search warrant for Yerdon’s cellphone, which reportedly contained multiple images and videos of child pornography.
State Police Investigator Kyle Haller described Yerdon as a community leader in the Watertown area with connections throughout the state. District Attorney Lee Kindlon noted that Yerdon gained access to children through his role as a church leader. Authorities have clarified that Yerdon was affiliated with a Norse Pagan religious organization in the Watertown area, not a retreat in Schoharie County as initially stated.
The district attorney’s office and the State Police have not disclosed the specific group involved but have called on the public to come forward with additional information, as they believe there may be more victims. This case underscores the importance of accountability and vigilance within communities to protect the vulnerable, aligning with the biblical principle of seeking justice and caring for one’s neighbor (Micah 6:8).
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
