The Wading River School music teacher arrested last week after allegedly engaging in sexual conversations online with people he believed to be a 13-year-old girl is due back in Suffolk County Criminal Court on Wednesday, four days after his arraignment and release on bail.
Mark Verity, 49, of Islip is charged with first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor, attempted use of a child less than 17 years of age in a sexual performance – sexually motivated, and attempted use of a child less than 17 years of age in a sexual performance, according to Suffolk County police.
The charges stem from an online sting conducted by Predator Poachers Long Island, a vigilante group that impersonates underage teens in chat rooms and on social media to expose alleged predators. The group turned over its evidence to police, who arrested Verity last week.
Vigilante video posted on YouTube
Predator Poachers Long Island on Tuesday posted a video of its hourlong Oct. 15 confrontation with Verity outside Wading River School (which educated grades 4-6) and later behind a bank across the street.
The recorded encounter quickly turns into a frank conversation about Verity’s online exchanges and his intentions, during which he appears to make several admissions and expresses remorse.
Verity, a longtime teacher in the Shoreham-Wading River School District and director of the school plays there, has been removed from the classroom and is not allowed on school property, district officials said.
His wife also works as a teacher in the school district. They have two children.
