Kevin O’Connell, an assistant to the superintendent for secondary instruction in Roosevelt schools, was arrested at his home in Patchogue on Tuesday for receiving child pornography. Federal agents found “numerous videos of apparent child pornography,” according to the official complaint, after tracing an advertisement for three pornographic videos available for sharing to his address.
O’Connell, 51, admitted to investigators that he battled his addiction to child pornography his whole life. Agents found thumb drives containing both work information and videos with young boys of ages between 10 and 14 engaged in sexual activity with adult men.
Following his arraignment at the federal court in Central Islip, O’Connell was released on $700,000 bond. Conditions for his release include home detention and electronic monitoring. He must not be in contact with anyone under that age of 16.
The mandatory minimum sentence for his charges is 5 years, but O’Connell could face up to 20 years if convicted. O’Connell has accepted a federal public defender to serve as his attorney. He has been suspended from his position as assistant superintendent at the Roosevelt School District where he played a central role in the State’s current effort to improve teacher quality and student academic performance.
As Bellport High School principal, O’Connell brought a grade-fixing scandal to light by refusing to change the grades of a student who was in line to receive an athletic scholarship to Syracuse University. His colleagues expressed surprise at the news of O’Connells arrest and the charges against him.
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