Habetz
A Derby man who once worked as a school custodian in Easton is due in court March 13 to face a child pornography possession charge.
David Habetz, 50, was charged with first-degree possession of child pornography June 22 and released after posting $15,000 bond.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge Aug. 15.
Habetz’s lawyer, Noah Kores, declined to comment on the case last week.
According to an arrest warrant, Derby police began an investigation last March after a roommate of Habetz’s told police she had seen child pornography on his computer.
The roommate showed police a video she recorded on her cell phone of Habetz’s computer depicting dozens of images of what looked like child pornography.
She gave a statement to police saying she was concerned about Habetz because he worked at an elementary school in Easton.
Police got a warrant to search Habetz’s home and cell phone.
While doing so March 22, Habetz allegedly admitted to downloading child pornography.
In a statement he gave to police later, he told police he had been downloading child pornography for about five years.
He said he had been head custodian at an elementary school in Easton for 13 years but that “he would never harm any of the students and would protect them at any cost.”
Derby police interviewed school officials in Easton who said Habetz was suspended during the investigation.
The school district later fired Habetz, according to a report by News 12.
Police sent Habetz’s computer and two cell phones to the state police crime lab to be analyzed.
The analysis said 471 images of suspected child pornography were found on Habetz’s computer, and two were found on one of the cell phones.
First-degree possession of child pornography is a Class B felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
