By JIMMY LAWTON

An Ogdensburg detective who retired behind bars remains jailed in Clinton County, but hearing was held on Dec. 22 regarding whether or not he should remain prior to and during the trial.

Harry McCarthy, 55, a 30-year member of the Ogdensburg Police Department, was indicted in August on federal charges for sexually exploiting a child for the purpose of creating child pornography, and for distributing, receiving, possessing and transporting child pornography.

According to the indictment, in 2013 and 2014, McCarthy induced a 13-year-old child to engage in sexually explicit conduct and recorded images of it, the announcement from the U/S. Attorney’s Office said.

Prior to that he had faced similar state charges.

McCarthy has spent several months in Franklin County jail and retired from the Ogdensburg police force while behind bars.

According to court documents, a detention hearing was held Dec. 22, but no decision has yet been rendered.

McCarthy will remain locked up in Clinton County Correctional Facility unless a different determination is reached by United States Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro.

If convicted of all charges, McCarthy faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for each charge of child exploitation, and at least five years and up to 20 years for each charge of distributing, receiving, and transporting child pornography.

McCarthy would also face mandatory, post-imprisonment supervised release of at least five years and up to life, and would be required to register as a sex offender.