Wappingers teacher pleads not guilty to child pornography charges

Nina Schutzman | Poughkeepsie Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Wappingers teacher pleads not guilty to child porn charges Steven L. Schwartz was indicted on seven counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child.

A veteran Wappingers elementary school teacher says he is not guilty of seven felony child pornography charges.

Steven L. Schwartz, 54, was indicted in May on seven counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, according the district attorney's office. Thursday was his first appearance in Dutchess County Court, where he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

Schwartz is accused of having digital photographs that depict male children under the age of 16 engaged in sexual conduct, according to his indictment.

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All of the digital photographs depicted "the lewd exhibition of the genitals" of a male child or children younger than 16, the indictment says.

Five of the seven felony counts are for photos that depict one male child. One count is for a photo that depicts two male children. One count is for a photo that depicts three male children.

The Town of Poughkeepsie resident is due back in court on July 17.

Schwartz appeared in court with his wife, along with his attorney, Joseph Tock.

"My client has been undergoing therapy and psychotherapy," Tock told Dutchess County Court Judge Peter Forman, after a conference in the judge's chambers.

The defense has provided the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office and court with "information from both (of Schwartz's) physicians," Tock said. "In addition, I've provided letters of character reference in support of my client... as well as the community service he's been doing since the time of the arrest."

Judge Forman told Tock and Schwartz: "Your negotiation with the district attorney's office will continue."

When asked, outside of the courthouse, if he had any comment, Schwartz did not answer.

Schwartz has been an elementary teacher in the Wappingers Central School District for three decades.

In late May, Schwartz submitted a letter of resignation, according to Wappingers Superintendent Jose Carrion. His resignation is not effective until the end of June.

The Fishkill Plains Elementary School teacher has spent the past few months on paid administrative leave. His paid leave will continue until his resignation is effective.

State police say Schwartz was arrested after an investigation into inappropriate comments made by a teacher to a student at Fishkill Plains, which revealed that he had "images of child pornography on personally owned electronic devices."

The charges Schwartz is facing are categorized as class "E" felonies, which are considered the least serious in New York, according to legal code. Sentencing guidelines show penalties for conviction of a class E charge range from no jail time with probation, to up to four years imprisonment.

Schwartz has been free on a $40,000 bond since his Feb. 9 arrest.

The Wappingers district has placed Schwartz on paid leave in the past, but it's unclear why. Records show Schwartz's salary is $125,231 this school year.

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-451-4518, Twitter: @pojonschutzman