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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Rochester Music Teacher On 74 Counts, Including 61 Counts Of Production Of Child Pornography
justice.gov ^ | December 10, 2020 | U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of New York

Posted on 12/10/2020 5:50:32 PM PST by ransomnote

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 74-count indictment charging Philip M. Close, 42, of Rochester, NY, with 61 counts of production of child pornography, and 13 counts of possession of material containing child pornography involving prepubescent minors. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant owns the Close School of Music on West Ridge Road in the Town of Parma, which offers private music lessons to children and adults of all ages. Close has been teaching music lessons throughout New York State for over 20 years.

According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, on December 5, 2019, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received information from a mother with two children taking lessons at the Close School of Music, that a video camera was attached to the toilet in the bathroom. The parent indicated that earlier that day, while waiting for her child to finish her music lesson, she used the bathroom. While in the bathroom, the mother observed a small black camera lens facing towards the toilet seat, and a small metallic-looking piece hanging from a wire off of the toilet. The mother grabbed and pulled the wires and found a camera-device and wires taped to the bottom of the toilet with black electrical tape. After finding this camera device, she removed it from the bottom of the toilet, and proceeded to contact 911.

A Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy reported to the Close School of Music and spoke with the defendant who acknowledged that the device was his. Close was taken into custody.

On December 6, 2019, a search warrant was executed at the music school and multiple digital computing devices were seized, including a laptop computer. A preliminary review of the laptop located three videos of the child whose parent alerted the Sheriff’s Department. One of the videos included the child using the toilet. Another video shows the child laying down on a piano bench and Close’s leg. The defendant is seen moving the child’s shirt up to expose her stomach and touching her stomach. Close then begins to touch other parts of the child’s body. The child is seen sliding under the piano in what appears to be an attempt to prevent the defendant from touching any further.

Further investigation revealed that the defendant produced videos containing child pornography including a total of 61 minor victims. 

Close will be arraigned on December 14, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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Topic(s): 
Project Safe Childhood
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TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: arth; childporn; ny; rochester

1 posted on 12/10/2020 5:50:32 PM PST by ransomnote
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To: ransomnote

I bet he voted for Biden 15 times.


2 posted on 12/10/2020 5:54:38 PM PST by Fai Mao (There is no justice until PIAPPS is hanging from a gallows.)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: ransomnote

if men would turn to God........imagine being so out of control of your whole being that one would be so low as to hurt the children.....we know what Jesus said about hurting the children.


4 posted on 12/10/2020 6:07:20 PM PST by cherry
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To: cherry

Critical socialist urgings of modernity, demand:

a) that you have a right to being out of control, and anything opposing your right, is “a fascist;” and

b) that the socialist state will control things (actually meaning, the socialist police state will control you - forget about (a).

All the while, Jesus is living water, and nudges us to work at self-discipline.


5 posted on 12/10/2020 6:14:40 PM PST by linMcHlp
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: ransomnote; 2Jedismom; 6amgelsmama; 100American; AAABEST; aberaussie; AccountantMom; Aggie Mama; ...

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the other articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. This can occasionally be a fairly high volume list. Articles pinged to the Another Reason to Homeschool List will be given the keyword of ARTH. (If I remember. If I forget, please feel free to add it yourself)

The main Homeschool Ping List handles the homeschool-specific articles. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping list. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from either list, or both.

9 posted on 12/10/2020 6:38:52 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: ransomnote

Biden seen on video molesting children and he may become the next president.


10 posted on 12/10/2020 6:42:51 PM PST by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
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To: minnesota_bound

he may become the next president.
~~~~~~~~~~
Will not happen! :D


11 posted on 12/10/2020 6:45:35 PM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: ransomnote

With all the lawsuits and the obvious voter fraud and bribery. I do hope Trump wins again but.... ifleft up to the supreme court and knowing the backstabbing John Roberts there is that possibility.


12 posted on 12/10/2020 6:49:53 PM PST by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
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To: minnesota_bound

ifleft up to the supreme court and knowing the backstabbing John Roberts there is that possibility.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
America would fall to China. Not going to happen. Patriots will not let the nuclear codes be given to China’s Manchurian puppet. :)


13 posted on 12/10/2020 6:51:38 PM PST by ransomnote (IN GOD WE TRUST)
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To: cherry

“if men would turn to God”

You mean like how priests do?

Or do you mean just ordinary men like me who have not particularly “turned to God”, but nonetheless find find these child molesters abhorrent, and would gladly dispatch them with prejudice when found with such overwhelming proof of their guilt as this?


14 posted on 12/10/2020 7:02:58 PM PST by Lite
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To: Lite

It can also mean following GOD’s laws, as in never doing harm to others. I don’t think one has to be a card carrying Christian to do “good”, but all too often, those who object to religosity forget that most of our moral sentiments come from Christianity whether they want to admit that or not.


15 posted on 12/11/2020 1:54:44 AM PST by Amberdawn (Want To Honor Our Troops? Then Be A Citizen Worth Fighting For.)
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