A recently retired school psychologist who spent decades with the West Seneca School District has been arrested on child pornography charges. David Michael Calaiacovo of Hamburg had several electronic devices that contained at least 400 images of child pornography.
US Attorney James Kennedy is asking the public who may have specific information related to this case to speak up, especially parents. He said child pornography is not a victimless crime.
“For our purposes here today, we sometimes draw the distinction between hands on offenders versus just viewing the images, somehow suggesting that maybe just viewing the images isn’t as harmful," Kennedy said. "But really what is being filmed and what is being viewed is the rape of a child.”
Kennedy said every time that image is viewed again, that child to a certain extent is victimized.
Assistant US Attorney Meghan Tokash, who is handling the case, said the main concern is Calaiacovo was in the public school system for over 35 years and had access to children alone.
“For parents who are listening to this, it’s important to remember that children disclose abuse, particularly sexual abuse, in many ways. It can be a full disclosure, it can be a partial disclosure. No is the easiest lie to tell for a child,” Tokash said. “Has something happened to you? Has someone touched you? No is a really answer. And disclosure of abuse takes time.”
Calaiacovo also worked as a ‘floater’ at several catholic schools in the area. Kennedy said this is the third time in the past few months an individual in a position of trust involving chldren has been arrested on child pornography charges.
Anyone with information can contact the HSI Buffalo Office Child Exploitation Tip Line at 716-464-6070.