By:Sarah Hallberg
Charged with attempted purchase of child porn
A teacher on leave from Oceanside Middle School was arrested in September for allegedly attempting to purchase child pornography over the Internet. He is also charged with intentionally distributing child pornography via the computer.
Robert Ruggiero, 25, of 75 Intervale St., Rockville Centre could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted, according to Federal Prosecutor Stephen King.
Ruggiero was caught in a sting operation set up by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
According to court papers, Ruggiero answered an ad on July 24 that was placed by an undercover postal inspector. It read, "Real home made XXX video of my 9 and 12 year old girls."
The ad was placed on an Internet web site known for auctioning sexually-oriented materials.
"Dear Seller, I've always had a fetish for preteens but could never find this sort of stuff anywhere on the Net. I'm very much interested in this homemade video you're a auctioning for $40," Ruggiero allegedly wrote to the inspector on July 27.
The two continued to correspond about the purchase and the explicit nature of the videos for the next several days. On July 31, Ruggiero is reported to have mailed a letter describing his own collection of videos, including ones depicting simulated rape and bestiality.
The inspector received a money order for $60 on Aug. 9 in an envelope labeled with Ruggiero's name and home address. The inspector also conducted a credit check on Ruggiero to confirm his address and confirmed that the email address being used was registered to him.
When the videos had not arrived by Sept. 20, Ruggiero sent another email to the inspector asking where they were. The email also contained pictures depicting child pornography. "Here's are two pics (below) which I thought you would appreciate!!!" the email said.
Ruggiero was arraigned on Sept. 12 in Federal District Court in Central Islip. He was released the same day on $100,000 bail.
Ruggiero taught math at Oceanside Middle School from Feb. to June, 2001, after being a substitute teacher the year before.
Dr. Herb Brown, superintendent of Oceanside Schools, said Ruggiero "came back in September and taught about a week and then he asked for a medical leave of absence."
Brown said he was "shocked and dismayed" when he found out what had happened and the school is "terminating him as a probationary employee."
The school is also taking precautions to ensure that students, parents and teachers have someone to talk to.
"The principal of the school spoke with the parents and the teachers," Brown said, "And any students who want to speak about it, we have counselors they can talk with."
Federal Prosecutor King expects the case to be presented before a grand jury within the next 30 days.
A woman answering the phone at Ruggiero's house refused to comment and his public defender, Randi Chavis, did not to return phone calls.
