A 25-year-old former West Seneca teacher has pleaded guilty to production and possession of child pornography.
Timothy Bek appeared before U-S District Judge Richard Arcara in federal court in Buffalo Monday.
Bek is a former teacher at a number of area schools. The U.S. Attorney's office says Bek posed as a female teenager on a social networking website to make contact with underage victims, some whom were students in the schools where Bek taught. Once contact was made, the defendant persuaded the victims to take explicit photos and videos of themselves.
The defendant further convinced the victims to send these images over the internet and via text messaging.
U.S. Attorney William Hochul said the charges carrying a maximum of life in prison.
"This case is a good example of why it is so important for parents to discuss online safety with their children," said U.S. Attorney Hochul. "All students at both the elementary and high school levels need to know of the potential dangers lurking online. While our Office will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute these crimes, both parents and students should know that their best defense is simply not to send explicit pictures over the internet."
The U.S. Attorney's Office says the images were discovered by law enforcement during the execution of a search warrant in connection with the arrest of the defendant's brother, Jason Bek. In December 2011, Jason Bek pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and receipt of child pornography and is awaiting sentencing in April 2012
Timothy Bek is scheduled to be sentenced May 23rd before Judge Arcara.