A Westchester County high school teacher has been accused of subscribing to a web service so he could download child porn.
Rye Neck High School Nicholas Pagliuca was arrested at his home in Somers on child porn possession charges, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said that he signed up for a 30-day subscription to a site that allowed him to download hundreds of images and videos portraying prepubescent children engaged in sex acts with other children or adults.
"As alleged, Nicholas Pagliuca, a teacher at a local high school, tapped into a website full of illegal child pornography to download images and videos," Bharara said. "Investigation and prosecution of these crimes are critical in protecting our children."
Attorney information for Pagliuca wasn't immediately available. Officials say he posted $50,000 bail and was remanded back to his home with an ankle bracelet, on the condition he not speak to any minors, including family members, and he stay in New Jersey.
Electronic devices have also been confiscated from Pagliuca.
Rye Neck schools said in a statement that the arrest was the first officials there knew of Pagliuca's alleged behavior and that they have no reason to believe that students had been "exposed to misconduct."
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"The charges as reported are very serious," the school said in a statement. "We have taken appropriate steps to preserve any evidence which may exist in School District electronic communications facilities, and Mr. Pagliuca has been relieved of his teaching duties pending further developments."
Authorities are asking anyone with information on Pagliuca that could be relevant to the investigation is asked to contact Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.
