LIBERTY — A Liberty High School math teacher was arrested on Monday, May 5, on charges of sharing child-related pornography. Liberty Central School District administration noted that they …
LIBERTY — A Liberty High School math teacher was arrested on Monday, May 5, on charges of sharing child-related pornography. Liberty Central School District administration noted that they believe no Liberty students were involved.
According to the New York State Police, 26-year-old high school math teacher Christopher A. Dedonato of Liberty was arrested on multiple felony charges “related to the possession and promotion of obscene material involving children.”
He has been charged with seven counts of Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child Less Than 17 Years of Age, a Class D Felony, and for Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child Less Than 16 Years of Age, a Class E Felony.
The district was made aware of the investigation, initiated following a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), on April 22, after which the teacher was placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.
Dedonato’s arrest is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the New York State Police Troop F Computer Crimes Unit, the Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at Liberty, Troop F Violent Gang Narcotic Enforcement Team, Troop F Community Stabilization Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
Dedonato was arraigned in Thompson Town Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail. Bail was set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 secured bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond. He was scheduled to appear in Town of Liberty Court on May 7.
“The safety of our students is our top priority,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We remind our students if they see or experience anything suspicious to report it to a trusted adult or through our Anonymous Alerts portal.”
That portal can be reached at this link: https://tips.anonymousalerts.com/libertycsd/. Anyone with more information regarding this case is asked to contact State Police in Liberty at 845-344-5300.
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