Westchester band teacher accused in child pornography case

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS. N.Y. (WABC) -- A Westchester County band teacher is under arrest and facing child pornography charges.

Jeffrey Whalen, 45, works at Crompond Elementary in Yorktown Central School District in the northern part of the county. He is charged with promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child.

According to the felony complaint, the charges are connected to a computer file that contained "sexual conduct by a child less than 16 years of age." The video was sent out from Whalen's home computer, prosecutors said, and it was discovered in August.

Allison Fastiggi, whose fifth-grade son is Whalen's student, can't wrap her mind around the dreadful reality.

"It's just really sad, you know?" she said. "It's unfortunate. He's a nice guy, really nice guy, and I feel bad for his kids and his family."

The accused teacher was at his Yorktown Heights home Wednesday morning, but would only said "no comment" from behind his front door.

In a statement, the district superintendent said, "Mr. Whalen was not working in the district on Tuesday and will be on administrative leave pending the disposition of further proceedings. We want to emphasize that the authorities have said at this point they are not aware of any involvement of district students."

Shewli Roy's daughter is a fourth grader at Crompond Elementary.

"I just told her he's not a good teacher," Roy said. "That's it, but i didn't tell her what is going on."

Meantime, news of Whalen's arrest shocked and surprised his next-door neighbor, Sharon Fennessy, who said she's glad investigators continue targeting sexual deviants.

"They need help," she said. "And if innocent children are being victimized, I mean, it's sad. It's very sad."