A cleaner at Chambers Elementary School in the Kingston City School District was arrested and charged with possessing child sexual abuse material, State Police and the district said Friday.
Richard Wade Jr., 46, is charged with three counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child less than 16 years of age, a felony, police said.
Acting on a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, authorities and executed a search warrant at Wade’s residence in Esopus on Wednesday. An investigation found Wade in possession of images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, including toddler-aged victims, police said.
Wade was issued an appearance ticket pending an Oct. 5 appearance in Esopus Town Court.
The school district announced the arrest of an employee on allegations of possession of child pornography on its website. It said the employee has worked for the district since July 2025, and is not permitted on school property.
“From the information that has been shared with us, at this time we have no reason to believe that any of our students were harmed,” the statement says.
State Police asks that anyone with information regarding Wade or the investigation contact the Troop F Computer Crimes Unit at (845) 344-5300.