Police chief who taught sex-abuse classes in suburban NY arrested on child porn charge
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A suburban New York police chief who taught sex-abuse awareness classes to children has been charged with downloading child pornography.
Mount Pleasant Chief Brian Fanelli was arrested Thursday by Homeland Security agents.
In a complaint filed with the court, an agent says Fanelli told investigators that he first viewed child pornography as research for the sex-abuse awareness classes he was teaching at two schools.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}According to the complaint, he then began viewing the pornography "for personal interest."
Fanelli appeared in federal court in White Plains and was released on $50,000 bond.
No plea was entered. Fanelli's attorney refused to comment after the court session.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fanelli has been chief for just two months in Mount Pleasant, about 25 miles north of New York City. He first joined the department in 1981.