U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced the sentencing of Derek Hagen, a former teacher from Batavia, NY. Hagen, aged 33, was convicted on charges related to child pornography production and possession involving prepubescent minors. Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford sentenced him to 240 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi provided details of the case, stating that between January 2018 and July 21, 2021, Hagen engaged in illegal sexual conduct with a minor referred to as Victim 1, aged between four and eight years old at the time. During this period, Hagen documented his actions through photographs and videos which he subsequently distributed online.
Further investigations revealed that from May to July 2018, while employed as an Assistant Teacher at Brockport Childhood Development Center in classrooms for infants through preschoolers, Hagen produced explicit images of children under his care. These children were aged between six months and five years old. The images were taken during routine activities such as diaper changes and bathroom assistance and were also shared over the internet.
Hagen was found in possession of approximately 50,000 child pornography images and videos received via the internet.
The investigation leading to this sentencing involved multiple agencies including the New York State Police led by Major Kevin Sucher; Homeland Security Investigations under Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
