Lakeland Middle School Employee Charged with Promotong, Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material

August 12, 2026

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced today that a Shrub Oak man was arrested and charged with promoting and possessing child sexual abuse material online.

The defendant, Francis John Teeling, 69, was arrested Tuesday by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and arraigned before Judge Gary J. Raniolo in Yorktown Town Court. He was charged via felony complaint with Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child and Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child, both felonies.

Teeling pleaded not guilty and is currently being held on bail, which was set at $10,000 cash, $25,000 bond, and $50,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on Sept. 22, 2026.

DA Cacace said: “Those who possess or share child sexual abuse material should be under no illusion that their depraved conduct is hidden from law enforcement. Through our strong partnerships with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the New York Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, my office is committed to exposing online predators and preventing further abuse and exploitation of children. With the school year about to begin, I urge parents to stay vigilant and monitor their children’s social media and internet activity. Make sure your children understand the dangers of sharing explicit images online, especially with people they do not know.”

On two occasions between April and August 2026, it is alleged that the defendant, an employee of Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School in Yorktown Heights, shared a digital file of an approximately 7-to-10-year-old female child engaged in sexual conduct to Microsoft Bing, and was in possession of a digital file of an approximately 5-to-8-year-old female child engaged in sexual conduct.

The District Attorney’s High Technology Crime Squad conducted the investigation following a referral from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The Yorktown Police Department assisted with the arrest.

The case is being prosecuted by Cyber Crimes Bureau Chief Michael Delohery.

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The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.