A former Western New York kindergarten teacher has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo says Roland Yockel II, 31 of Hilton, pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child pornography.
The charge carries a sentence of 5-20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for June 14.
Yockel's online activities were traced by U.S. Homeland Security agents working with New Zealand investigators on a case related to the internet application Chatstep.com. After a search of Yockel's home, authorities say they found DVDs containing thousands of sexually explicit images and videos, and that many depicting children were posted online.
Yockel was a kindergarten teacher at Ginther Elementary School in Brockport and was placed on administrative leave after his arrest. According to court documents, he denied ever touching children in his care, but admitted he stole underwear from children's backpacks at a summer camp where he worked.
