Lakeland school employee arrested on child pornography charges

Francis John Teeling, 69, an employee of the Lakeland School District, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Teeling, who worked at Copper Beech Middle School, is accused of sharing a digital file involving a girl aged 7 to 10 on Microsoft Bing and possessing an image of a girl aged 5 to 8 engaged in sexual conduct.

The investigation was conducted by the Westchester District Attorney’s High Technology Crime Squad following referrals from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Yorktown Police Department assisted in the arrest.

Teeling faces felony charges of promoting and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, which carry potential prison sentences of up to 11 years. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and is being held on $10,000 cash bail, a $25,000 bond, and a $50,000 partially secured bond.