A New York Metropolis first grade trainer stockpiled a “sickening” trove of kid pornography — and was busted after his family taped him fessing as much as the disgusting conduct, federal prosecutors alleged.
Christopher Ward, 37, allegedly used a messaging app to share the tons of of repulsive photographs and movies for a minimum of a yr, whereas educating among the Massive Apple’s youngest pupils at Hunters Level Elementary Faculty in Queens, authorities stated.
“Day-after-day, Christopher Ward stood on the entrance of a classroom of first graders whereas allegedly storing tons of of pictures exploiting youngsters identical 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 relations in early September, recorded a dialog with him during which he admitted to receiving little one porn movies after which sharing these clips a minimum of 30 instances, in accordance with a felony criticism.
The court docket 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 telephone, 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 telephone, in what authorities decided was a potential bid to cover his crime, in accordance with the criticism.
Ward taught on the Queens elementary faculty from final September till this month. He hasn’t been on the faculty since Sept. 5, in accordance with a letter to folks despatched out by faculty management.
Earlier than that, he labored at Academy of St. Joseph, a Catholic faculty in Manhattan, from January 2021 by means of June 2024, data present.
Ward lives together with his mother and father in Farmingdale after leaving the house he shared together with his partner, his protection lawyer stated in court docket Wednesday, in accordance with 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 advised The Put up in a press release Thursday.
Ward was being held behind bars pending his subsequent court docket 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 pictures 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.
A spokesperson for the town Division of Schooling stated Ward’s alleged conduct was “deeply disturbing and has completely no place in our colleges.”
The rep stated Ward was now not employed by the varsity district and that the DOE helps the state completely revoking his educating certificates.
“After we ship our kids to high school daily, we belief that they are going to be cared for and guarded by their lecturers. 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’s completely zero tolerance for anybody who exploits our most harmless on this means.”
