MINEOLA, New York — An FBI
investigation that began more than a year ago with the arrest of a child
pornography suspect in Alaska has led to federal charges against a New York
state police investigator who has worked as a high school and college lacrosse
coach.
SeanMichael Pagano, 37, of
Mount Sinai, was being held without bail following his arrest Thursday on
charges he downloaded videos depicting young girls engaged in sexual acts with
adults. His attorney, Brian Davis, said his client has pleaded not guilty, but
added he had just been retained Friday and was still investigating the allegations.
Davis said he hoped to present
a bail package to a judge in federal court in Central Islip on Monday.
When he was arrested, Pagano
told an FBI agent that he had downloaded the videos as part of an investigation
he was conducting on behalf of the state police.
The complaint against Pagano,
however, said he "was not authorized to conduct child pornography
investigations as part of his employment, and had never reported receiving or
accessing child pornography."
Darcy Wells, a state police
spokeswoman, said Pagano, a 14-year veteran assigned to barracks in East
Farmingdale, on Long Island, was suspended without pay.
Pagano also was fired from his
position as an assistant lacrosse coach at Rocky Point High School.
Superintendent Michael Ring said Pagano was hired for the part-time position in
December and had cleared all background checks.
Pagano coached the Briarcliffe
College men's lacrosse team from 2009 to 2013. Briarcliffe spokesman Mark
Spencer said there was no indication the coach had any contact with minors; he
declined to say why Pagano was no longer coaching there, citing personnel
reasons.
A 13-page criminal complaint
indicates the FBI investigation of Pagano began in March 2013 with the arrest
of an unidentified suspect in Anchorage, Alaska, on charges of possession and
distribution of child pornography. That suspect later agreed to cooperate with
investigators, and turned over records of those with whom he had exchanged
child pornography.
In June 2013, investigators
uncovered evidence that Pagano had contacted a website run by the suspect in
Alaska. Pagano allegedly downloaded or previewed five videos involving young
girls being molested by adult men. Search warrants were later issued for
Pagano's email accounts, which uncovered evidence that he had allegedly
responded to numerous online adult sex advertisements by sending pictures and
videos of himself, both clothed and nude.
Authorities arrested Pagano at
his Mount Sinai home on Thursday.