Music School Owner Facing Federal Child Porn Charges

Federal prosecutors have charged the owner of a Rochester music school with production of child pornography.

Philip Close of Rochester was charged yesterday by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office with unlawful surveillance after a hidden camera was found in a restroom of his school on West Ridge Road.

Close was arrested after a mother using the restroom while her children took their music lessons spotted the camera lens and wires and pulled the camera from its hiding place beneath the toilet. She immediately called 911. A search warrant was served at the building the next day and a computer was seized that turned out to have images of a child victim. Video shows Close touching the child's stomach and other parts of her body.

Close was in federal court today (Tue) and was held pending a hearing on December 17th.


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