August 6, 2015
| by Rick Pezzullo |
Former Mount Pleasant Police Chief Brian Fanelli could face four years in prison after pleading guilty July 27 in federal court to possession of child pornography.
Fanelli, 56, who worked for Mount Pleasant Police for 32 years and took over as chief November 1, 2013, was arrested in January 2014 for allegedly downloading and possessing child pornography. He was accused by federal Homeland Security investigators of downloading more than 120 files containing images and videos of what authorities determined was child pornography.
As part of his plea, federal prosecutors agreed not to seek a jail sentence of more than four years, three months when Fanelli is sentenced on November 12. He could have faced a maximum of 10 years behind bars.
“By his guilty plea to downloading and possessing child pornography, Brian Fanelli, a former police chief who swore to protect and serve, admitted to a crime that victimizes and exploits some of the most vulnerable in our community,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.
Fanelli, who was permitted by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas to remain at his Mahopac home with electronic monitoring, also faces a maximum fine of $250,000. As police chief, Fanelli earned a base salary of $135,518. Reportedly, his annual state pension is $55,831.
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