Dansville Teacher Hagen Charged with Child Pornography

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—In a chilling development in the world of education, 29-year-old Derek Hagen from Batavia, NY, was arrested and charged with producing, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. The charges against him could see him spending a minimum of five years and a maximum of thirty years behind bars.

Hagen’s fall from grace began in September 2020 when Snapchat alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about images of child pornography uploaded to a group chat. This led to a collaboration between law enforcement agencies, ultimately resulting in Hagen’s identification by the New York State Police.

On July 20, 2021, authorities seized two computers and a cell phone from Hagen’s Mount Morris apartment. A forensic analysis revealed a disturbing pattern of child exploitation on these devices, including Hagen’s active involvement in producing and distributing child pornography in online chats. So far, analysts have recovered approximately 50,000 images and videos of child pornography.

The complaint against Hagen outlines his extensive background working with children. He had held positions at the Brockport Childhood Development Center, Batavia City School District, Pembroke Central School District, and most recently with the Dansville Central School District.

Any individuals with information related to this case are urged to contact Homeland Security Investigations at (716) 464-6070 or email hsibuffalotips@ice.dhs.gov.

The investigation was conducted by the New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It’s important to note that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.