A police chief in Mount Pleasant, N.Y., who was tasked with teaching youth how to avoid situations that could lead to sexual abuse, has now been charged with possession of child pornography.
Chief Brian Fanelli was arrested by Homeland Security agents on Thursday, NBC reported. Court documents show he admitted to investigators that he started looking at child pornography as part of his research for the classes on sex-abuse awareness that he taught at area schools.
But he then started looking at the images “for personal interest,” he reportedly said to investigators, NBC reported.
Chief Fanelli made a brief appearance in federal court in White Plains, where the judge granted him a $50,000 bond. Chief Fanelli’s attorney hasn’t yet entered a plea, NBC said.
The chief started his police duties at the Westchester County-area department two months ago.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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