Retired schoolteacher had child porn on his computer, police say

A retired schoolteacher from Northport was arrested Tuesday and charged with possessing child pornography, Suffolk police said.

Kurt Desch, 63, who was taken into custody about 7:15 a.m. at his home, faces one count of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a felony, police said.

Computer Crimes Unit detectives found videos and photos of boys and girls of various ages, including prepubescent children, on Desch's computer, police said.

Police did not say how they were tipped off.

At his arraignment  in First District Court in Central Islip, Desch's case was adjourned until March 15, according to court records. Bail for Desch was listed as $75,000 bond or $35,000 cash, neither of which were posted, records show.

Desch told investigators he retired in 2016 from teaching at Eastern Suffolk BOCES, police said.

But in a statement, Julie Davis Lutz, chief operating officer for Eastern Suffolk BOCES, said Desch last taught there in 2012. No reason for the discrepancy was immediately available.

"Mr. Desch was hired by Eastern Suffolk BOCES in 1979 and retired on June 30, 2012," Lutz said. "He began his career at the North Country Learning Center. After that location closed in June 2008 he taught at Brookhaven Learning Center for the remainder of his tenure. He has not worked for us in any other capacity or been on our payroll since he retired in June 2012."