WADING RIVER, NY — An Islip man and music teacher at the Wading River elementary school was arrested Friday after engaging in sexually explicit communications with a purported 13-year-old child, police said.
According to Suffolk County police, Mark Verity, 37, was arrested at 9:35 a.m. in the Mattituck home of a family member after he tried to solicit indecent photos from a minor.
Verity was first exposed by the Predator Poachers Long Island group during a livestream, the group said.
The Suffolk County Police Department’s digital forensic unit began an investigation after receiving a report from the Riverhead Town Police Department regarding Verity having inappropriate communications online with an adult — who was reportedly a decoy from the Predator Poachers group, according to their Instagram post – posing as a 13-year-old girl, “including requesting indecent photos,” authorities said.
Following an investigation, detectives arrested Verity; he was charged with first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor; attempted use of a child less than 17 years of age in a sexual performance-sexually motivated, and attempted use of a child less than 17 years of age in a sexual performance, police said.
Verity will be held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned on October 18 at First District Court in Central Islip.
Verity is a teacher in the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District; at this point in the
investigation, there is no evidence that any student was a victim, police said. The district is cooperating with the investigation, police said.
According to the Predator Poachers Instagram post, a livestream was posted Wednesday on YouTube, during which Verity reportedly “reached out to our 13-year-old decoy account asking for explicit images of her multiple times, discussed scenarios of them meeting up,” and described other lewd acts.
A message from Gerard Pool, Superintendent of Schools at the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District, read: “It has been brought to our attention that a teacher at Wading River School has been caught on a livestreamed platform sharing disturbing remarks. 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 individual has been removed from the classroom and will not be permitted on school grounds pending the outcome of the investigation.”
He added: “While I understand that this news may leave you with questions, our legal counsel has advised us that we are unable to provide any further comment at this time. I will provide any new developments as appropriate. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.”
A second message from Poole read that the teacher “has been removed from the classroom and will not be permitted on school grounds pending the outcome of the investigation.”
He added: “I do want to advise you that the district does not have any prior reports or complaints about this employee. On the advice of legal counsel and as this is an ongoing police matter, the district is unable to provide additional details. We are continuing to work in full cooperation with the appropriate authorities.”
School counselors and support staff are available to speak with students who may need someone to talk to. Families seeking assistance for their children are encouraged to reach out to their school principal and/or our school psychologists for guidance and resources, he said.
“I will continue to provide any new developments as appropriate and, once again, thank you for your continued support and understanding,” Poole said.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim of Verity to contact the digital
forensics unit at 631-852-6279.