A Long Island elementary school teacher is under investigation after he was busted allegedly admitting on camera to sexting someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl and asking for sexually explicit photos.
Wading River Elementary School teacher Mark Verity, 37, was immediately suspended Wednesday after the allegations surfaced.
The married father-of-two, who hasn’t been identified publicly by cops, allegedly made the confession during an undercover sting spearheaded by the Predator Poachers Long Island – a vigilante group that seeks to catch would-be pervs.
The Wading River Elementary School teacher was busted allegedly admitting to sexting a 13-year-old girl and asking for sexually explicit photos. YouTube / Predator Poachers Long Island
The educator allegedly confessed during an undercover sting spearheaded by a Long Island vigilante group, the Predator Poachers. YouTube / Predator Poachers Long Island
The group recorded the ordeal, alleging the teacher had said he reached out to the 13-year-old “decoy account” and made a slew of sick remarks — including trying to teach the girl how to masturbate. YouTube / Predator Poachers Long Island
The Suffolk County Police Department said it was investigating the teacher. YouTube / Predator Poachers Long Island
The school district said it had suspended and banned the Wading River teacher from school grounds amid the probe. Wading River PTA
The group, which recorded the ordeal, alleged he copped to reaching out to its 13-year-old “decoy account” and making a slew of sick remarks — including trying to teach the girl how to masturbate.
He also allegedly admitted on camera to possessing child porn featuring kids as young as 8.
The Suffolk County Police Department confirmed it was investigating the teacher but wouldn’t release further details.
The school district said it had suspended the teacher and banned him from school grounds in the wake of the probe.
“The Riverhead Police Department has been made aware of this matter and are conducting an investigation,” Shoreham-Wading River Central School District Superintendent Gerard W. Poole said in a letter to parents. YouTube / Predator Poachers Long Island
“We will fully cooperate with law enforcement during this process,” Poole said. YouTube / Predator Poachers Long Island
“It has been brought to our attention that a teacher at Wading River School has been caught on a livestreamed platform sharing disturbing remarks,” Shoreham-Wading River Central School District Superintendent Gerard W. Poole said in a letter to parents.
“The Riverhead Police Department has been made aware of this matter and are conducting an investigation. We will fully cooperate with law enforcement during this process.”
The teacher, who has worked for various school districts over the past 15 years, has spent the last decade teaching at Wading River.
His two toddlers are ages 2 and 3.
No further details were immediately available.