Shoreham-Wading River teacher Mark Verity admitted sexual conversations with adult posing as 13-year-old, documents say

The Shoreham-Wading River music teacher accused of asking for explicit photos online from a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl admitted he engaged in sexual conversations with her, according to charging documents obtained by Newsday.

Mark Verity, 37, of Islip, was arraigned in First District Court on Saturday and pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor, attempted use of a child less than 17 years of age in a sexual performance-sexually motivated, and attempted use of a child less than 17 years of age in a sexual performance.

His lawyer, Matthew J. Martinez, based in Sayville, declined to comment. Judge Mary Kate Mullen set bail for Verity at $75,000 cash, $150,000 bond, or $750,000 partially secured bond. He was released early Saturday afternoon.

Verity appeared in court wearing a black hoodie with white text on the back, just above his cuffed hands.

“The defendant admitted to his conduct on video,” the prosecution said in the courtroom.

Predator Poachers Long Island, an organization that creates fake social media profiles to catch child predators, broadcast its confrontation with Verity via livestream on Wednesday.

When Verity had reached out to one of the profiles, he unknowingly communicated with the local group, which who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. Local group founder Michael Villani and Alex Rosen, who founded Predator Poachers in Texas, then confronted Verity and notified police, Villani said. 

Verity was arrested Friday morning in Mattituck, Suffolk County police said. In a news release, police alleged Verity was “having inappropriate communications online with an adult posing as a 13-year-old girl, including requesting indecent photos.”

According to the felony complaint document, Verity used his iPhone 13 Pro Max in early October to communicate with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old female and stated he had sexual conversations with her. The complaint says Verity admitted to those acts in "oral and written statements."

In court on Saturday, the prosecutor told judge Mary Kate Mullen that police had recovered multiple electronic devices from Verity.

Martinez told the judge Verity had given up his computer and allowed police into his home. He described Verity as a married father of two and schoolteacher of 14 years who intends to contest the charges.

The investigation into Verity has not revealed any "evidence that any student was a victim," Suffolk police have said. The school district is cooperating with the police department.

In a letter to district residents on Thursday, Shoreham-Wading River schools Superintendent Gerard W. Poole said that "the district does not have any prior reports or complaints about this employee."

By Arielle Dollinger

arielle.dollinger@newsday.com@aridollinger

Arielle Dollinger joined Newsday as a staff reporter in 2022. Previously, she covered local and national news as a freelancer for The New York Times, Newsday and other outlets.