The 22-year-old Holtsville man charged with possession of child pornography earlier this month was a student-teacher in the Kingston City School District in 2018.

Jacob Delaney, currently residing in New Paltz, was arrested on Dec. 12 after an investigation by the FBI uncovered the man allegedly had videos of child pornography on his personal computer and an external hard drive, the Department of Justice said.

The Kingston City School District addressed the matter in a statement on its website.

“The Kingston City School District has been notified that a former student teacher was arrested and charged with child pornography,” the statement explained. “Jacob Delaney did course field work with The SUNY New Paltz Numeracy Club at Chambers Elementary School in 2018 and student-taught a fourth-grade class at Myer Elementary School from January-March 2019.  KCSD has completed an internal investigation, which indicates that this individual was never unsupervised while working with our students. We take this matter very seriously and encourage parents to speak with their children.  Anyone with information should contact their local law enforcement agency.”

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Delany, a 2019 graduate of the early childhood education program at SUNY New Paltz, will not be returning to the campus at this time, the school announced in an email message to its students and staff that Hudson Valley Post obtained. SUNY New Paltz did not immediately respond to an email from Hudson Valley Post asking about Delaney's status at the school.

“The well-being of all members of the campus and our community is paramount, especially that of children entrusted to us as they participate in campus and school district programs,” the school’s email to students and faculty said.

Law enforcement’s search of Delaney’s computer revealed sexually explicit videos of teens and prepubescent boys, authorities said, and a further forensic review led to the discovery of about 36 videos in total depicting children – some as young as seven to nine years old – engaged in sexual acts. Authorities also said Delaney admitted the computer and external hard drive belonged to him.

If convicted, Delaney faces a term of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force and the NYSP Troop F Campus Sexual Assault Victim's Unit and Highlands Barracks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Giglio Suarez is prosecuting the case.

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