Arrest of Sayville Custodian for Child Porn Shocks District, Colleagues

The Tuesday of a Sayville elementary custodian on a child pornography charge came as a big shock and surprise to both district administrators and colleagues who describe Shawn Mead as a hard-working employee.

“All I can think of is he got himself involved in something he didn’t realize what it was,” said one district worker who requested anonymity.

“He’s a very good worker. This will put a big dent in his life and career,” the colleague told Patch.

The 44-year-old Patchogue resident, who has worked as a Sayville custodian for 12 years, most recently as a night custodian at , turned himself into police at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. He is charged with one count of possessing a sexual performance by a child, according to police. The Class E felony carries a maximum jail sentence of four years.

The arrest, according to police, came after the unit conducted an undercover investigation into individuals trading child pornography online. Mead is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Tuesday.

Mead has been suspended with pay, according to John Belmonte, Sayville assistant superintendent for business, who said Suffolk Police did not contact the district about the arrest until mid-morning Tuesday. According to FindtheData.com website, Mead earned a salary of $66,915 as of 2011. 

“A this point we know little, except child porn was found on his home computer according to the police, and there doesn’t seem to be any involvement with any Lincoln Avenue school children," Belmonte told Patch. "It was all Internet downloads from what we have been told.

The district is conducting its own investigation, he added.

“The first thing we did was scan all our district computers and there is no indication that anything took place on school property,” Belmonte said, describing Mead as an “exemplary employee and very hard worker,” and adding the safety of the students is paramount to the district.

Mead's father, Michael, served as a custodian in the district for 27 years, the last 23 as head district building and grounds chief, and .

“This is an allegation that we are taking very seriously. Mead was a night custodian and was not exposed to students during his work hours,” Belmonte said. 

One colleague was clearly stunned by the news of Mead’s arrest and told Patch Mead was a hard worker and someone who may not have realized what he had gotten involved in.

“He seems a little naïve,” said the colleague.