Teacher arrested for possessing approximately 50,000 depictions of child pornography

Rochester, New York: The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of New York announced through Project Safe Childhood on Wednesday, November 24 that 29-year-old Derek Hagen had been arrested and charged with producing, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography.

According to the press release the charges carry a minimum possible sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.

Hagen worked with a number of childcare businesses and school districts including Brockport Childhood Development Center, the Batvia City School District, the Pembroke Central School District and the Dansville Central School District.

The press release did not indicate if any victims were linked to Hagen's places of employment.

The investigation into Hagan began in September 2020 when Snapchat sent a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning content that had been uploaded into a group chat by a user.

On July 20, 2021 electronic devices were confiscated from Hagan's apartment and a forensic analysis of the devices revealed "a pattern of child exploitation activity on the devices with the defendant actively producing and distributing child pornography in online chats."

Investigators additionally located conversations where "Hagen and the other individuals traded child pornography and discussed specific children that they had sexually abused or wanted to sexually abuse."

It is estimated that approximately 50,000 images and videos of child pornography have been recovered from Hagen's devices to date.

Investigators are asking that anyone who may have information related to this case contact Homeland Security Investigations at (716) 464-6070 or by email at hsibuffalotips@ice.dhs.gov.