OLEAN STAR
UPDATED 11:42AM
Michael R. Sharbaugh, 53, formerly of Limestone, New York was arrested in Seminole County, Florida on a Cattaraugus County Warrant charging him with 12 counts, including two counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance By a Child and ten counts of Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child.
District Attorney Lori Rieman said that her office led the investigation. Rieman’s office directly indicted Sharbaugh after local and federal criminal agencies did not file criminal charges after investigating the matter. Rieman would not comment on any details of the ongoing investigation and noted that the indictment remains sealed. It will be unsealed when Sharbaugh is arraigned in New York on the charges.
The basis for the criminal charges was discovered in the course of an unrelated human resources investigation when Cattaraugus County Information Technology discovered several of the photographs on Sharbaugh’s county-issued telephone.
THE CHARGES
A person is guilty of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child, when knowing the character and content thereof, he produces, directs or promotes any obscene performance which includes sexual conduct by a child less than seventeen years of age.
A person is guilty of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child when, knowing the character and content thereof, he knowingly has in his possession or control, or knowingly accesses with intent to view, any obscene performance which includes sexual conduct by a child less than sixteen years of age.
RESIGNATION
Sharbaugh served as the Director of Probation in Cattaraugus County until his abrupt resignation in January 2025. As Probation Director, under State Law, Sharbaugh had been appointed to an indefinite term and could only be fired after being brought up on charges and given a hearing under Section 75 of the New York State Civil Service law. Sharbaugh resigned before charges could be filed by Cattaraugus County.
In January 2025, Jack Searles served as Director of Human Resources and Ashley Smith served as County Attorney and headed Risk Management. In January, as a result of an unrelated Human Resources investigation, Sharbaugh was placed on administrative leave, his badge and gun were confiscated, he was locked out of all County networks and all county equipment was surrendered. Ashley Smith is the Republican Candidate for District Attorney this November and will likely succeed Rieman.
SHARBAUGH CLAIMED TO HAVE RESIGNED WILLINGLY
In February, responding to a facebook post involving the appointment of his successor, Tonya Kilby, Sharbaugh said, “I resigned my position as Director of Probation of my own free will and volition.”
All those accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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