Former N.Y. School Employee Indicted on 113 Charges After Allegedly Filming Himself Sexually Abusing a Child

A former New York school employee has been indicted after allegedly filming himself sexually abusing a child and sharing the video and images, according to authorities.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office announced in a press release on Wednesday, May 14 that 40-year-old Brian Woehr, who previously worked as a custodian in the Lindenhurst school district, was indicted for several felony charges related to the incident.

“Beyond the horrific trauma of the sexual abuse itself, this defendant allegedly recorded these despicable acts and distributed that material to others,” said District Attorney Raymond Tierney in a press release. “Each view and share re-victimizes the child.”

“This office remains steadfastly committed to holding accountable those who exploit and harm children,” he added.

Woehr’s attorney Steve Fondulis did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on this case. 

The former school custodian was arrested following an investigation that began on April 30 by the Suffolk County Police Department Digital Forensics Unit, which received a tip about “multiple child sexual abuse images” that had allegedly been uploaded to Google.

The tip prompted police to execute a search warrant on the school employee’s Lindenhurst home the same day and detectives obtained Woehr’s cell phone, which through forensic analysis, was found to have contained “several of the videos and images” that “depicted the sexual abuse of a child” that were allegedly produced by Woehr.

Police did not say how they identified Woehr’s home as the alleged source for the photos and videos, nor did they share the severity of the videos obtained. 

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The Suffolk County Police Department announced the 40-year-old’s arrest on Thursday, May 1. Woehr charges included use of a child in a sexual performance as a sexually motivated felony and use of a child in a sexual performance — which are both C class felonies and hold a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. 

He is also charged with two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, 52 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, 54 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, per the district attorney’s office. 

Woehr has pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to Long Island News 12.

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A spokesperson for the Lindenhurst Union Free School District told Long Island News 12 that Woehr hasn’t worked for the school district since 2021.

The 40-year-old is being held on a $5 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for June 20. 

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said “anyone with any additional information regarding Woehr” is urged to contact the Suffolk County Digital Forensics Unit at 631-852-6279.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.