A former educator with the Bay Shore School District who is already facing charges of sexually abusing two former students has now been indicted on an additional charge.
Thomas Bernagozzi, 75, of Babylon, was indicted on June 19 for multiple counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, for allegedly possessing five images of a former minor student with his genitals exposed.
On December 21, 2023, Bernagozzi, a former Bay Shore School District third-grade teacher, was arrested and indicted for first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and first-degree sodomy, relating to the alleged sexual abuse of two former students. During the execution of a search warrant at Bernagozzi’s residence, members of the Suffolk County Police Department found five images of another student with his genitals exposed, which were taken from inside Bernagozzi’s bedroom. It is alleged that the child victim was approximately eight years old when these images were taken.
On December 21, 2023, Bernagozzi was arrested and charged with one count of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree and one count of first-degree sodomy, both Class B violent felonies for allegedly sexually abusing students under his care while he was employed as an elementary school teacher with the Bay Shore Union Free School District.
On June 18, 2024, Bernagozzi was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis on the new indictment for five counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a Class E felony. His charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. However, based on the new indictment charging the defendant with possession of the five images allegedly depicting child pornography, Wilutis revisited the bail request on the original indictment and ordered Bernagozzi held on $1 million cash, $2.5 million bond or $10 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. If convicted of the new charges, the defendant faces 1 1/3 to 4 years of incarceration on each count.
Bernagozzi is due back in court on July 12, 2024.
“We will not tolerate the exploitation of children in any form. The alleged possession of these disturbing images, involving a former student, is a grave violation of trust and an affront to the safety of our community,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Our office will pursue these charges with relentless determination to ensure that justice is served and that predators of children think twice about committing such acts because they will face the full weight of the law.”
Anyone with any additional information regarding Bernagozzi should contact Detective Patrick Boyles of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section at (631) 275-2302.