TEACHER IN PORN CASE IS BARRED FOR NOW

William Joseph Sawicz, a 31 year old Bethpage middle school teacher, was arrested January 7 at his Queens home on charges that he downloaded child pornography from a Web site popular among kiddie porn peddlers.  Court papers said that Sawicz had 80 images of children, some as young as 10, photographed naked and sometimes engaged in sex acts.  He was released on $150,000 following his arraignment in federal court in Brooklyn and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Bethpage school district officials declined to say whether Sawicz has been suspended but confirmed he was relieved of his teaching duties.  He taught Spanish to sixth, seventh and eighth graders at John F. Kennedy Middle School.  Sawicz is not allowed to frequent schools or places where children are likely to be until there is a verdict or plea in the case, according to bail stipulations.

(New York)