Feds Find Kiddie Porn Stash At NYC Teacher's Apartment
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A camp counselor at the the 92nd Street Y this summer was charged Thursday with the possession of child pornography.
Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided 28-year-old John Edward Thomas' Manhattan apartment -- which he shares with his mother and sister -- and found video after video of children engaged in explicit sexual behavior, 1010 WINS' Glen Schuck reports.
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According to a criminal complaint, Thomas' computer was seized along with over 40 CDs that contained child pornography videos.
Thomas had been a teacher at the prestigious Horace Mann School, where he taught fourth and fifth grade for the past three years. This fall, Thomas was to begin teaching at the Bank Street School for Children.
Public relations director Beverly Greenfield says the 92nd Street Y got the news late Thursday afternoon and immediately notified parents of the situation.
Greenfield says the center does extensive background checks on all camp counselors, but nothing of concern had come up about Thomas.
"We're shocked and saddened, as are the parents," Greenfield said.
Reacting to the charges levied against Thomas, one parent told Schuck: "Obviously this a sick guy."
But she said that she doesn't fault the "Y" for being blindsided by the news.
"Somebody who is working at Horace Mann...you'd think that this is a prestigious guy," she said.
Thomas faces up to 10 years behind bars and a fine of $250,000 if convicted.
