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Philip M. Close Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Pornography
Rochester, NY – In a shocking turn of events, Philip M. Close, a 43-year-old music teacher, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for producing and possessing child pornography.
Close, who owned the Close School of Music on West Ridge Road in the Town of Parma, pleaded guilty to a 74-count indictment, including 61 counts of production of child pornography and 13 counts of possession of material containing child pornography involving prepubescent minors.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, Close hid spy cameras throughout the school and secretly recorded students, parents, and other teachers. Some of those cameras captured videos of the defendant inappropriately touching his students and himself during lessons.
Between 2012 and 2019, Close produced hundreds of videos of child pornography involving 61 identified minor victims, with the youngest victim being just four years old. Investigators also discovered 13 devices that contained other images and videos of child pornography during a search of the Close School of Music.
U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. stated, ‘As a result of this sentence, this defendant will likely spend most or all of the rest of his life behind bars.’ He warned individuals in positions of trust with children to be aware of the consequences of exploiting children for their own perverse interests.
The sentencing 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.
Close’s actions have left a trail of devastation in their wake, and his sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severity of child exploitation crimes.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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