Wappingers teacher facing child-porn charges suspended before

A Wappingers elementary school teacher facing child pornography charges had been suspended from his job in the past, according to the district.

Steven L. Schwartz, a 53-year-old town of Poughkeepsie resident, was charged Friday with six felony counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child.

An investigation into inappropriate comments made by a teacher to a student at Fishkill Plains Elementary School revealed that Schwartz had "images of child pornography on personally owned electronic devices," according to state police.

CHARGED: Wappingers teacher faces child pornography charges

He is free on $40,000 bond, according to Dutchess County Jail officials. A Poughkeepsie Town Court appearance Wednesday was adjourned until Feb. 28. 

Schwartz, who could not be reached for comment, has been a teacher in the Wappingers school district for three decades. He's currently on administrative leave from Fishkill Plains Elementary, where he teaches second grade, according to the district. 

When asked if parents had made complaints of any nature about Schwartz in the past, schools Superintendent Jose Carrion told the Journal via email: "Please be advised that there were no parental complaints which can be disclosed under privacy laws."

But Schwartz has been placed on administrative leave in the past, according to the superintendent. 

He spent his first decade in Wappingers teaching at Vassar Elementary School, Carrion said. He started at Fishkill Plains in 1998, and has been there since, "except for several brief periods when he was on administrative leave during the 2015-16 and 2017-18 school years."

The reasons for Schwartz's previous suspensions are unclear. It's also unclear if he was placed on leave at another point during this school year, or if Carrion was referring to his current status of leave. 

Carrion could not immediately be reached for further comment.

State police on Jan. 26 started investigating "inappropriate comments made by a teacher to a student" in the Wappingers district, they said. The incident was reported to have occurred at Fishkill Plains and the investigation included the Dutchess County Child Advocacy Center, with help from the district. 

Schwartz's attorney, Joseph Tock, could not be reached for comment.

"The investigation is continuing and we will not schedule a grand jury presentation until the investigation is completed," said Dutchess District Attorney William Grady.

Carrion said the district has been "conducting its own investigation regarding Mr. Schwartz and has been cooperating" with state police. Schwartz will remain on "administrative leave from Fishkill Plains... pending the conclusion of the district’s investigation." 

Schwartz's salary is $125,231 this school year, according to district records.

The Journal was denied a copy of Schwartz's felony complaint, a public record, at the Town Court on Wednesday. Judge Stephan Krakower had not provided an explanation for the denial.

Schwartz spent two decades volunteering with the Arlington Fire District, according to Fire Chief Tory Gallante. Schwartz is "no longer an active volunteer, but served as one from 1991 until 2011," Gallante said.

Schwartz resigned as president of the Red Oaks Mill Fire Co., a volunteer fire company in the Arlington Fire District, on Feb. 6, according to volunteer Kenneth Muckenhaupt. He gave no reason.

"He was a liaison between our company and the Boy Scouts troop we sponsor," Muckenhaupt said. 

The Boy Scouts of America Hudson Valley Council did not respond to Journal inquires.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact state police at 845-677-7300.

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-451-4518; Twitter: @pojonschutzman