Architect Jay Lockett Sears faces child-porn charges

A prominent East End architect and philanthropist is facing six federal counts of possessing child pornography.

Jay Lockett Sears, 73, of Quogue, printed photographs of six girls and modified them so the minors appeared to be "engaging in sexually explicit conduct," according to the indictment released Friday by the U.S. Attorney's Office of Long Island.

Previously filed court papers said Sears photographed children at public events, including beach and yacht club parties, and superimposed girls' faces on those of adult women in pornographic pictures.

If Sears is convicted, prosecutors will seek, in addition to jail time, forfeiture of the equipment used, including four cameras, the indictment said.

Sears, released on $250,000 bond, is scheduled to be arraigned on the felony charges Monday at U.S. District Court in Central Islip.

His attorney, Richard Signorelli of Manhattan, declined to comment last night.

Sears was a principal in the Quogue architectural firm of Sears & Sears and designed homes priced at as much as $15 million for such celebrities as Michael J. Fox, Susan Lucci and Clint Eastwood.

He also runs his Mission of Kindness organization, which helps needy families.