Upstate New York teacher sentenced to more than 5 years in federal prison on child pornography charge

ALBANY, N.Y. – An upstate New York elementary school teacher has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for receiving images and videos of child pornography. At the conclusion of his prison sentence, he is ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors and is required register as a convicted sex offender. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Timothy Brehmer, 35, of Broadalbin, N.Y., was sentenced earlier today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe.

According to court documents, Between April 2007 and Dec. 5, 2011, Brehmer used the Internet to access various child pornography websites. While accessing some of the child pornography websites, Brehmer downloaded multiple images and videos of child pornography onto his home computer. He pleaded guilty to the charge June 19, 2012.

In connection with his guilty plea, Brehmer surrendered his New York State teaching certificate and tendered his resignation of employment with the Ballston Spa (N.Y.) Central School District.

"Anyone who produces, possesses or shares child pornography victimizes and traumatizes the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society," said Nick DiNicola, assistant special agent in charge of HSI Albany. "Our HSI special agents, operating under our Operation Predator program, specifically seek out predators who sexually exploit children, but especially those who have violated a position of trust in working with children."

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 & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss, Northern District of New York, prosecuted this case on behalf of the U.S. government.