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DA: NYC Teacher Sent Indecent Photo To Student Over Snapchat

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Prosecutors say a New York City high school teacher used Snapchat to send a photo of his genitals to a 16-year-old student.

Brooklyn Tech teacher Sean Shaynak, of East Flatbush, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges including dissemination of indecent material to a minor and harassment.

Prosecutors say the 44-year-old math and physics teacher was Facebook friends with the student. Her name was not released.

According to the investigation, Shaynak used Snapchat to send an explicit photo to the student on June 27.

Prosecutors say the student took a screenshot of the image with her phone.

As WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education says the alleged behavior is unacceptable and that Shaynak has been reassigned and will not be in contact with students.

DA: NYC Teacher Sent Indecent Photo To Student Over Snapchat

Shaynak faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

His lawyer, Howard Kirsch, had no comment.

"This is a disturbing allegation as schools should be safe havens for students where teachers should protect our children from, and not expose them to, such disgusting sexual images. Here, the defendant is accused of betraying his position of trust and he will now be held accountable for his actions," District Attorney Kenneth P. Thompson said in a statement.

Millie Negron has children and other family members in the school district and said she doesn't see any reason why teachers should interact with their students on social media.

"Some of them add these students and that's where it goes wrong," she said.

Nakema Dennis, who was sitting outside the school with her 2-year-old daughter, told Miller she is not looking forward to her daughter's teenage years. She believes social media needs to have limits.

"You should be an example to the students, not someone they should fear," Dennis said.

Brooklyn Tech is one of the city's most selective public schools.

Mayor Bill de Blasio's son, Dante, is a student there.

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