NYPD auxiliary cop faces child porn charges

A New York City auxiliary police sergeant faces child pornography charges after images of children engaging in sexual acts were found on computer files at his West Babylon home, Suffolk County police said Tuesday.

Patrick Steiner, 42, was arrested at his home about 9:30 a.m. Monday and charged with five felony counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child and five felony counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, police said. Steiner possessed a "significant" amount of pornographic digital video images, said Deputy Insp. George Fasanelli.

"He had some pretty graphic stuff in there," Fasanelli said.

The discovery was made by the Suffolk Computer Crimes Unit, Fasanelli said. The unit made the arrest on the strength of an undercover investigation of individuals trading child pornography online.

Steiner was arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Central Islip and is being held on $50,000 bond. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Suffolk police said Steiner was a sergeant with the NYPD auxiliary police and was associated with Starlight Entertainment, a disc jockey music service that provides entertainment at parties and special events.

Police said there was no link between the images found on the computer and the company.

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A message left with Starlight Entertainment was not immediately returned.

The NYPD did not immediately respond to an email request for comment and said the department was preparing a statement.