Man Who Was Originally Reported As Missing Person in September Now Arrested Following Child Exploitation Investigation

State Police have announced following a child exploitation investigation, 21 year old Jonathan C. D’Agostino of Syracuse has been arrested and charged with Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child Less Than 17 Years of Age and Possessing Sexual Performance by a Child less than 16, both Felonies. Police say D’Agostino is accused of possession and promoting child sex abuse materials. He was arrested on January 16th.

An investigation was opened by State Police following a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding suspicious online activity. The State Police’s Troop C Computer Crime Unit and the Ithaca Bureau of Criminal Investigation executed a search warrant in September of 2025 at D’Agostino’s residence.

The search warrant coaligns with when D’Agostino was reported missing by the New York State Park Police. Police reported D’Agostino was last seen on September 7th with his vehicle located at Buttermilk Falls State Park with his cell phone left behind. He would later be located in Pennsylvania two weeks later.

D’Agostino was processed at the State Police Barracks in Ithaca and was later transported to the Tompkins County Jail for Centralized Arraignment.