Teacher faces criminal sex charges

	Ice rink construction to proceed
	Town mulls joining motel owner’s appeal
	Spy ring center to house second Washington letter
	SUNY chancellor named
	Senator to VA: Reimburse veterans
	Five years free VA care for veterans
	Prevention cheaper than bailout, Rep. says
	Fixing Brookhaven’s fiscal fix
	Revenue down, costs up

Extras

	e-mail this article link to a friend
	letter to the editor about this article
	print this article

February 16, 2009 | 10:40 AM
A 34-year-old high school teacher has pleaded not guilty to charges that he possessed child pornography on his computer and had sexual relations with a student.

Second Squad detectives allege that Jason Berman, a Half Hollow Hills West High School teacher, met a 15-year-old boy in an Internet chat room and had sexual relations with the teenager Jan. 31 at Berman's Commack residence.

Berman was arrested in his vehicle on Route 231 and the Northern State Parkway in Dix Hills at 4:02 pm.

The Suffolk County Police Computer Crimes Unit determined that Berman also had child pornography on his computer, and the computer was seized.

Berman was charged with third-degree criminal sexual act; endangering the welfare by a child, and possessing a sexual performance of a child.

He was held at the Second Precinct for arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday.

Berman had not posted bail, set at $40,000 bond/$20,000 cash, as of press time.

Detectives ask anyone with information about this case to call 854-8252, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

All calls will remain confidential. The investigation is continuing.

Search The Site