Former City Honors Teacher Indicted On Child Pornography Charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a three count indictment charging Peter Hingston, 59, of Amherst, NY, with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 70 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between September 2018, and June 17, 2019, the defendant used two minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. In addition, Hingston possessed a GoPro HERO4 digital camera containing an SD card that contained images of child pornography.

According to a previously filed complaint in the case, in June 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned the Buffalo Police Department was investigating an incident related to the possible production of child pornography involving Hingston. The report alleged that the middle school technology teacher was observed using a GoPro camera to photograph or record female students in a sexually inappropriate way. Multiple students came forward regarding Hingston’s use of the GoPro during class.

The defendant was arraigned this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and continues to be detained.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief James P. Stauffiger.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.