Crime & Safety
Substitute Teacher Accused of Having Child Porn
Phys ed teacher in South Huntington district arrested by Suffolk police.
A substitute teacher in the South Huntington school district was arrested Thursday on charges of possessing child pornography.
West Babylon resident Francesco Santodonato, a substitute physical education teacher at Maplewood, was arrested after an investigation by the Suffolk County computer crimes section. Police seized a computer and other media and an investigation found that Santodonato possessed pictures and videos of child pornography. He was arrested at his home at 4:26 p.m.
Dr. David Bennardo, superintendent of the South Huntington school district, said police reported that there was no evidence that any children had had any physical contact.
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Santodonato, 39, was charged with two counts of possession of a sexual performance of a child, and three counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child.
He was being held at the 7th Precinct stationhouse and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Friday.
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