Upstate New York teacher indicted on child pornography charges
ALBANY, N.Y. — A federal grand jury in Albany has returned a two-count indictment charging an upstate New York elementary school teacher with possession and receipt of child pornography. This investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Timothy Brehmer, 35, of Broadalbin, N.Y., was indicted earlier today. On or about Dec. 6, 2011, Brehmer knowingly possessed images of child pornography, and received these images between April 2007 and Dec. 5, 2011. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"This case is particularly alarming in light of the defendant's position as a teacher," said Nick DiNicola, assistant special agent in charge of HSI Albany. "HSI will continue its work with its law enforcement partners – using every tool at our disposal – to keep our children safe.
"My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases as part of the district's organized efforts to protect children," said U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, Northern District of New York.
HSI's ongoing efforts to target suspects involved in child exploitation offenses are part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting this case on behalf of the U.S. government.
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