Thomas Sheppard (Speonk, New York), 27, gym teacher at Westhampton Beach Middle School, Westhampton Beach School District, Westhampton Beach, New York, "charges that he videotaped students in the girls locker room" New York State Police: Teacher arrested for recording students [Press Release] (Mar 20 2013) The New York State Police at Riverside arrested a Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher on charges of unlawful surveillance in the second degree, a class E felony. On March 06, 2013, the New York State Police at Riverside received a request from the Chief of Police from the Village of Westhampton Beach to assist with an investigation of alleged misconduct by a teacher. The investigation began on February 26, 2013, when school administrators reported suspicious activity in the gym locker room to police. The investigation, involving both agencies and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, resulted in the arrest of THOMAS SHEPPARD, age 27, of Speonk, New York, a four year employee of the school district. Sheppard will be arraigned at the Village of Westhampton Beach Justice Court sometime today. Evidence obtained reveals Sheppard apparently placed a video recording device in the female gym locker room. The investigation is continuing and additional charges may be forthcoming. Anyone who has information is encouraged to contact the New York State Police at 631-208-9002. A press conference will be held today at the New York State Police Riverside, 234 Riverleigh Ave, Riverside, N.Y. at 2:30 P.M. Tags:
CBS Local New York: L.I. Gym Teacher Accused Of Placing Video Recording Device In Girls Locker Room (Mar 20 2013) Police said Thomas Sheppard, a beloved gym teacher and coach, was arrested after he videotaped children in the middle school girls locker room. Evidence obtained reveals Sheppard placed a video recording device in a female gym locker room in an apparent effort to record students in that environment,” said New York State Police Maj. Patrick Regan ... But police did say cyber-bullying may have also played a role in this case. They believe that some supporters of Sheppard may have gone online to intimidate alleged victims.
NBC New York: L.I. Gym Teacher Accused of Recording in Girls Locker Room (Mar 20 2013) A Long Island middle school gym teacher has been accused of using a cell phone in the girls locker room to illegally record students, police said. Thomas Sheppard, 27, of Speonk was arrested on charges of second-degree unlawful surveillance, a felony offense. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday and was freed on $25,000 bail ... The charges stem from an investigation that began in late February, when someone in the school noticed Sheppard allegedly using a cell phone to record in the locker room. School administrators reported the suspicious activity to local police, who then brought in state police to assist with their investigation.
ABC Local WABC: Long Island gym teacher accused of spying on girls (Mar 20 2013) Police say 27-year-old Thomas Sheppard was still in his gym outfit as he walked out of the state police barracks today. Police say Sheppard placed a cell phone in the girls locker room at Westhampton Beach Middle School to record them ... He has been released on 25k cash bail ... Student who said this happened has been bullied on social websites.
My Fox DFW: Teacher accused of recording girls in locker room (Mar 20 2013) Bail has been set at $25,000 for a Long Island middle school gym teacher accused of recording video of girls in the locker room with a hidden camera. The New York State Police say that Thomas Sheppard, 27, of Speonk was a teacher at Westhampton Beach Middle School. The investigation began on February 26, when school administrators reported suspicious activity in the gym locker room to police ... Police say evidence pointed to Sheppard, a four year employee of the school district, placing the video camera in the locker room.
PIX 11: Gym teacher caught filming female students in locker room: police (Mar 20 2013) Thomas Sheppard, 27, of Speonk, used a cell phone to record girls as the changed. It is unclear if the person who discovered the cellphone cam was a student, but someone notified police.
News 12: Westhampton gym teacher Thomas Sheppard accused of filming students in locker room (Mar 20 2013) A middle school gym teacher is accused of putting a camera in a locker room and secretly recording young girls. Police say 27-year-old Thomas Sheppard, a gym teacher at Westhampton Middle School, used a cell phone to record female students in the locker room. Sheppard was charged this afternoon with unlawful surveillance, but police say other charges may be forthcoming.
Long Island Press: Westhampton Beach Teacher Filmed Girls in Locker Room, Cops Say (Mar 20 2013) A Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher was arrested for allegedly placing a video recorder in the girls locker room, New York State police said. Thomas Sheppard, who has been employed with the Westhampton Beach School District for four years, was charged with unlawful surveillance ...
North Jersey: LI gym teacher accused of videotaping girls (Mar 20 2013) ... Thomas Sheppard of Speonk (SPEE'-ahnk) was arraigned in Westhampton Beach Justice Court. He is charged with illegal surveillance ... Authorities say Westhampton Beach school administrators reported suspicious activity to police in February.
Examiner: Police: Westhampton Beach teacher filmed girls in locker room (Mar 20 2013) A Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher was arrested Wednesday accused of filming girls changing in the school’s locker room, New York State police said. Thomas Sheppard, 27, of Speonk, was charged with second-degree unlawful surveillance. Police said school officials reported “suspicious activity in the gym locker room,” to Westhampton Beach police on Feb. 26.
News 12: Westhampton Beach Middle School teacher Thomas Sheppard accused of spying on young girls out on bail (Mar 21 2013) An East End gym teacher, accused of spying on young girls in their locker room, is out on bail today. Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher Thomas Sheppard is accused of using a camera to spy on female students changing in their locker room.
West Hampton - Hampton Bays Patch: Cops: Gym Teacher Hid Camera in Girls Locker Room (Mar 21 2013) New York State Police have charged a 27-year-old Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher with unlawful surveillance, a felony, for allegedly hiding a video camera in the girls locker room. The teacher, Thomas Sheppard, of Speonk, was charged on March 20, after an investigation by Westhampton Beach and New York State detectives, which stemmed from allegations made by several students in the school district. The allegations of teacher misconduct were made pubic on March 5 when Mike Radday, school superintendent, called Westhampton Beach police to report the incident that occurred in the girl's locker room.
Read the article for the parents' comments ... West Hampton - Hampton Bays Patch: Community Sounds Off on Gym Teacher Arrest (Mar 21 2013) At a press conference held Wednesday afternoon, police said some of the students involved have reported that they have been "bullied" on social media by those who believe Sheppard is innocent. Community members and parents were left in disbelief. One middle school parent, Patricia DiBenedetto, said on Wednesday that she has an 8th grader in the school and is "beyond words..." over the situation. Others echoed her statement, saying things like, "disgusting." Some expressed thanks to the school district and police for investigating the situation ... Meanwhile, others argued that Sheppard is innocent.
27 East: Westhampton Beach Parents, Students Offer Differing Opinions Of Arrested Gym Teacher (Mar 27 2013) While the rumor mill keeps churning, parents and students remain divided over last week’s arrest of a popular Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher and coach accused of surreptitiously filming middle school students in the girls locker room with a cellphone, and how school officials handled the incident. Thomas Sheppard, 27, of Speonk was arrested on March 20 by State Police at the school district’s administrative office, where he had been assigned since the police investigation began in late February, and charged with a felony count of second-degree unlawful surveillance. Authorities said he used his cellphone to shoot video of girls in the locker room at the school, where he has taught physical education for four years. Mr. Sheppard, who is suspended with pay and faces up to four years in prison ...
27 East: Westhampton Beach Middle School Gym Teacher Will Return To Court On Monday (Apr 24 2013) The Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher arrested last month on charges that he videotaped students in the girls locker room is due to return to court next week. Thomas Sheppard, 27, of Speonk is scheduled to appear at the Suffolk County Court in Riverhead on Monday, April 29, when he is expected to be arraigned on one felony count of second-degree unlawful surveillance and seven misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to Robert Clifford, a spokesman for Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota. At his original arraignment last Month, Mr. Sheppard was charged only with the felony count. Mr. Clifford explained this week that Mr. Sheppard was indicted before a grand jury on April 8, but the details of his indictment have been sealed until his next ...
27 East: Westhampton Beach Middle School Teacher Pleads Not Guilty In Riverhead Court (Apr 29 2013) Thomas Sheppard, 27, of Speonk pleaded not guilty to all counts at the Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead, during an arraignment on one felony count of second-degree unlawful surveillance and seven misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child ... During the roughly 20 minute proceedings, James Chalifoux, the deputy chief for the major crimes bureau in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, told Judge Kahn that it was clear to the prosecution the incident was not a mistake, as some have alleged, and that Mr. Sheppard deliberately filmed 13- and 14-year-old girls by placing his cell phone in the girls locker room when they were scheduled to change clothes. Mr. Chalifoux added that Mr. Sheppard had attempted to erase the video, but it was recovered by authorities.
