An investigation into someone requesting photos online of underage girls in their underwear resulted Tuesday in the arrest of a man who served as a student teacher in Albany, authorities said.
Police arrested Christopher Suk-Bin Brennan, 22, of 508 Morris St., first floor, Albany, and charged him with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Police arrested Brennan after an investigation into possibly hundreds of messages sent through social media to girls between the age of 8 to 15 in the Colonie area requesting photos of them in a bikini or underwear. Police said there is no indication of any physical contact between Brennan and any victim, but he is believed to have received up to six photos in response to the requests.
Police are trying to identify those potential victims.
The Albany City School District identified Brennan as a College of St. Rose student who served as a music student teacher there in three district schools this year.
Acting Albany Superintendent Kimberly Young Wilkins issued a statement in response to the arrest.
“I want to assure our families that the St. Rose student was supervised at all times while in our schools,” Wilkins’ statement reads. “The Colonie Police Department also has informed us that there is no indication at this time that any of our students were involved.”
Brennan was arraigned on the charges and ordered held on $5,000 bail.
The investigation began in January when two 10-year-old girls reported to Colonie police that they had received Instagram messages from an individual requesting the photos. The girls provided no photos.
Police determined the Instagram messages came from an account — EMMASTANTON777 — that identified itself as a modeling agency.
Police determined that the individual may have sent hundreds of such messages to girls age 8 to 15 in the area via both Instagram and Facebook.
Police Tuesday morning raided Brennan’s apartment, seized his computer and cellphone and arrested him. Authorities from the state police Computer Crime Unit are in the process of examining both, police said.
According to the Albany district, Brennan served at Giffen Memorial Elementary School and Montessori Magnet School from Jan. 11 to March 2. He began a new student-teaching assignment at Albany High School Monday, an assignment that officials have terminated. Police informed the district of the arrest Tuesday.
District officials said Brennan was under the supervision of a district music teacher at all times while in district schools.
Police ask anyone with information about Brennan’s alleged activities to contact their local police department.
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County
