A New York Metropolis first grade trainer stockpiled a “sickening” trove of kid pornography — and was busted after his circle of relatives taped him fessing as much as the disgusting conduct, federal prosecutors alleged.
Christopher Ward, 37, allegedly used a messaging app to share the a whole lot of repulsive pictures and movies for at the least a yr, whereas educating a few of the Large Apple’s youngest pupils at a Queens public elementary college, the feds stated.
“Day-after-day, Christopher Ward stood on the entrance of a classroom of first graders whereas allegedly storing a whole lot of photographs exploiting kids similar to them,” Manhattan US Legal professional Jay Clayton stated in a press release.
Ward was already being probed for alleged little one exploitation when his kinfolk in early September, recorded a dialog with him during which he admitted to receiving little one porn movies after which sharing these clips at the least 30 occasions, in response to a prison criticism.
The courtroom docs clarify the family members carried out the sting “independently” and weren’t instructed to take action by authorities.
Ward additionally handed a relative his cellphone, which was then turned over to legislation enforcement, the criticism states.
A messaging app Ward allegedly used to share little one porn was deleted from the cellphone, in what authorities decided was a doable bid to cover his crime, in response to the criticism.
Ward taught at an Queens elementary college from final September till this month. The title of the varsity wasn’t instantly identified.
Earlier than that, he labored at a Manhattan college from January 2021 by means of June 2024, prosecutors stated.
Ward lives along with his dad and mom in Farmingdale after leaving the house he shared along with his partner, his protection lawyer stated in courtroom Wednesday, in response to Internal Metropolis Press.
“Mr. Ward was arraigned yesterday and entered a plea of not responsible. The fees contained within the Criticism are merely accusations, and Mr. Ward is presumed harmless,” his protection lawyer Daniel Russo informed The Publish in a press release Thursday.
Ward was being held behind bars pending his subsequent courtroom date Oct. 2.
He’s charged with one depend of receiving and distributing little one porn and one depend of possessing little one porn, together with photographs of prepubescent minors and minors who have been youthful than 12 years previous.
Every of the counts carries a most jail sentence of 20 years.
Town Division of Schooling didn’t instantly have a touch upon Ward’s arrest.
“After we ship our kids to highschool daily, we belief that they are going to be cared for and guarded by their academics. As a substitute, Christopher Ward made each guardian’s worst nightmare a actuality,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated in a press release.
“These allegations are as sickening as they’re unlawful, and there may be completely zero tolerance for anybody who exploits our most harmless on this manner.”
