Cops: School groundskeeper kept child pornography
Photos buried in backyard result in arrest of Rocky Point groundskeeper
10 comments below
A 20-year-old secret buried in a Sound Beach backyard led to the arrest Tuesday of a Rocky Point School District groundskeeper on a child pornography charge.
Steven Deturris, 46, of Sound Beach was arrested at the Seventh Precinct in Shirley by detectives from the Computer Crimes Squad and charged with possession of sexual performance of a child, a felony. He pleaded not guilty in First District Court in Central Islip and was released on $5,000 bail. Neither Mr. Deturris nor his attorney, Daniel O'Brien of Nesconset, were available for comment by presstime.
Police began investigating Mr. Deturris after a man in his 30s contacted them. Upon further investigation, police said, Mr. Deturris was found to be in possession of Polaroid photos depicting children posing in a lewd manner.
"He held onto these things for over 20 years," said Det. Sgt. John Cowie, commanding officer of the Computer Crimes Squad, which investigates incidents involving child pornography. "The only reason he buried them was to secrete them because he didn't want them to be found. I get the impression he knew the police were going to come look, so he buried them."
Det. Sgt. Cowie said the photos were "well-preserved" and in "pristine condition," wrapped in plastic and then packed inside a plastic container, which was buried only just last year.
"In my experience it's just typical in a sexual predator that collects child pornography, they can't get rid of it," Det. Sgt. Cowie said. "They are his trophies. He did not want to get rid of them."
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has no prior criminal history, was immediately suspended from his employment as a groundskeeper in the Rocky Point School District.
Police said they have no indication children from the district were abused in any way through the course of his employment, which, according to the district, began in 2001.
Following the arrest, Rocky Point superintendent Carla D'Ambrosio posted a statement on the school's Web site addressing the matter.
"Like you, I am deeply upset by the information revealed by police. As a parent, I wholeheartedly understand our community's concerns. As chief administrator of schools, I will continue to work in the best interests of the safety and well-being of all students," Dr. D'Ambrosio wrote. "The District will continue to cooperate with Suffolk Police. I will keep you informed of any developments."
According to a prepared statement released Wednesday by a public relations firm that does work for the Rocky Point School District, Mr. Deturris did not have any direct contact with students.
"It was the late '80s, and I believe [Mr. Deturris] was in his mid 20s and the victims were boys between the ages of 10 and 13 that we know of," Det. Sgt. Cowie said.
The detective said the victim came forward after contacting the sexual abuse victim advocacy group, Parents for Megan's Law, seeking assistance. Police are withholding the man's identity based on his status as the victim of a sex crime. The victim, who initially wanted to remain anonymous, supplied some information from which police were unable to develop any leads. Eventually he agreed to come forward for an interview. When Mr. Deturris was interviewed by detectives, he led them to where the box was buried in the backyard of the Stewart Road home he shares with his mother.
Det. Sgt. Cowie said investigators believe the victimized boys were from the Sound Beach and Rocky Point area, and that some of them may have worked for Mr. Deturris, who owned a landscaping business at the time the photos were taken.
"We believe there was sexual contact 20 years ago and that it is beyond the statute of limitations," he said.
The detective said police, who continue to investigate, urge anyone who might be a victim or might have more information that would help them, to contact Crime Stoppers, a confidential police hot line, at 800-220-TIPS.
"My experience with sexual predators is it will not be a one-shot deal," Det. Sgt. Cowie said. "This is what they are going to do. They are going to go out to victimize again."
Parents for Megan's Law executive director Laura Ahearn pointed out that it is important for the public to reach out if they recognize something suspicious because it can often aid an investigation by law enforcement.
"Sex predators are not going to stop offending on their own," she said.
peggy@northshoresun.com
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: 9/16/2011
Here is his sex offender listing:
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/SomsSUBDirectory/offenderDetails.jsp?offenderid=34536
: 9/30/2009
We did not print a photo because police declined to release his mug shot. The Sun
School groundskeeper : 9/26/2009
Why hasn't the Sun posted a picture of this person? It's important that children know what this man looks like, so that they can stay away.
My Poor Town : 9/25/2009
To think this happened during our innocent youth years (or any time) is horrible. My heart goes out to the victims, some of which are probably men I went to school with or knew. May God help heal these wounds.
