Revere Teacher, Ian Silver-Eck, Arrested On Child Pornography Charges
Ian Silver-Eck (aka Ian Hennig) an after-school teacher from Revere, Massachusetts, has been arrested on child pornography charges.
Silver-Eck, 20, worked as a workshop leader for the Cambridge-based after-school company, Build-It-Yourself, which provides art and technology enrichment for children aged eight to eighteen. He was a part-time employee who had worked there for 16 months.
The company is affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) one of the most prestigious schools in the United States.
John Galinato, a spokesperson for the company, described Ian Silver-Eck as a “solid teacher.”
“Ian is a recent high school graduate who I understand is trying to save money to go to art school. Ian has been a solid teacher for over a year. He has never been late for class. He knows our art and technology lesson materials and prepares well for classes. Ian is professional, polite, helpful and easy going in classes.”
Galinato also said Silver-Eck passed multiple background checks. The spokesperson also believed the teacher’s recent child pornography arrest was his first offense.
On December 2, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children filed a report with the Massachusetts State Police indicating that a person was using Skype to share child pornography.
According to District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, investigators tracked the computer hosting the child pornography to Silver-Eck’s home in Revere.
Police were given a warrant to search Ian’s computer and found 23 images of child pornography. So far, there is no evidence that any of the children on Silver-Eck’s computer were his students.
According to the district attorney’s office, Silver-Eck confessed to the charges against him.
“Silver-Eck allegedly made post-Miranda statements admitting that he had images of child pornography saved in a file on his computer.”
Ian Silver-Eck was arrested on Thursday and arraigned in Chelsea District Court on Friday. Despite admitting that he had child pornography on his computer, the young Revere native plead not guilty to the charges against him.
Silver-Eck is being held on a $1000 bail. If released, he will not only have to wear a GPS monitor, but will be prohibited from unsupervised contact with children. He will also have to stay away from schools, playgrounds, and after-school workshops. He will not even be allowed to use the Internet.
Massachusetts State Police digital evidence experts are currently examining his computer.
Reporters have tried to contact Ian Silver-Eck, but so far have been unsuccessful.
A reporter from 7 News tried to contact the young man at his apartment, but his mother answered the phone and said he did not want to talk. She also described her son as a good kid.
His mother also declined to speak with reporters from Fox 25.
According to NECN, Silver-Eck’s mother believed the accusations against her son have ruined his life.
Build-It-Yourself made a statement concerning Silver-Eck’s arrest. The statement said that the company regretted that the young teacher had been arraigned on child pornography charges and described him as “professional, polite, and helpful in classes.”
Buckingham Browne & Nichols, a prestigious school that worked with Build-It-Yourself, also released a statement. The school described itself as “deeply concerned” over the news of Silver-Eck’s arrest. It also said that Ian had co-instructed at one of their school’s after-school programs. Buckingham Browne & Nichols said that Silver-Eck never conducted class alone.
Ian Silver-Eck will return to court on May 20. If convicted of possession, he could face penalties up to five years in prison and $10,000. If convicted of distribution, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. He will also have to register as a sex offender.
[Photo by Joe Readle/Getty Images]
