Teacher Child Porn Case Jolts NY City Prep School Scene, Says Report

NEW YORK (CBS) A teacher who taught at some of New York City's most elite preparatory schools was accused of possessing an astounding amount of child pornography on his computer and sharing images with others, according to the Daily News.

On Thursday police confiscated 43 CD-Roms containing images and videos of children engaging in sexual acts from John E. Thomas's Harlem home, reported the newspaper.

Thomas was charged in Manhattan federal court with possessing child porn and released on $50,000 bail.

The 28-year-old suspect previously taught at Horace Mann Nursery School on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and Friend's Seminary, and was expected to begin teaching fifth grade students this fall at the Bank Street School for Children, which "offers a rich learning environment" according to its Web site.

Thomas, who served as a summer camp counselor for the one of the city's Y locations, allegedly had porn on his computer that showed children similar to the ages of those who he taught and mentored, stated the Daily News.

Parents from the camp were appalled by the accusations.

"There's a lot of sick people out there...it's so scary," a concerned parent told the paper.

Prosecutors contended that Thomas should be required to undergo electronic monitoring to ensure that he stays away from children.

Michael Hurwitz, Thomas's lawyer, emphasized that his client was never accused of child molestation, the Daily News reported.