Brookline HS employee faces child porn charges

BROOKLINE, Mass. (WHDH) -- A Brookline Public Schools employee was arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography.

Benjamin Schwartz, who works with special needs students at Brookline High School, is accused of having sexually explicit videos on his personal computer involving young girls.

Schwartz, 32, who has been out of medical leave since October, pleaded not guilty in court Friday for possessing and distributing child pornography.

“He said that he had adult pornography and that he thought some were younger and downloaded quote, ‘some disturbing stuff,’” said Danielle Picdarini, assistant district attorney. “He also stated that he downloaded them accidentally, but didn’t know what to do with them so he kept them on his computer.”

Schwartz was the target of a State Police and Brookline Police investigation. He has worked at Brookline High School and Pierce Elementary School since 2002.

Police have told the superintendant so far there is no evidence of any inappropriate contact with a student.

“We don’t have any information like that right now, but we don’t pretend that that necessarily is going to be the case at the end of the day,” said Dr. Bill Lupini, Brookline School Superintendant.

The superintendant notified parents, but Schwartz was already on leave for a medical condition. The superintendant says Schwartz is not welcomed back at the school regardless, pending the charges.

The suspect’s family left court with no comment.

If Schwartz posts the $7,500 bail the judge set, the judge said Schwartz will have to wear a GPS bracelet, stay away from children and schools, and cannot use the Internet.