Out on bail following his arrest, Jay Lockett Sears is headed back to court Monday to face a six-count indictment on child pornography charges.
Sears, a 73-year-old philanthropist with ties to Quogue, was arrested on Jan. 25, when pornographic images — created by pasting children's faces on photos of adults, in a process called morphing — were found in a garbage container at the Brookhaven transfer station. A police investigation revealed that the photos allegedly came from Sears' East Moriches home.
The FBI charged Sears, a man who touted his dedication to children through a Quogue-based nonprofit organization called Mission of Kindness, with one count of child pornography.
Robert Nardoza, a spokesperson with the U.S. district attorney's office, said on Friday that Sears will be arraigned before Judge Lindsay at the U.S. District Court in Central Islip on Monday at 2 p.m.
He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment if convicted.
According to the indictment, which was handed down on Feb. 20, Sears is accused of possessing materials that contain one or more visual depictions of six minors in photographs that were modified to appear as if they were engaging in "sexually explicit conduct."
The indictment says the identities of the female children are known to the grand jury, but they were named only as "Jane Does." Their identities are protected.
The materials were produced "using materials that had been mailed, shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce," the indictment states.
Sears was , after several bail hearings. Part of his release included home detention with an electronic monitor and that he is to have no contact with any children. He was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
Sears also owns an architectural firm that has designed houses for celebrities, including Michael J. Fox and Clint Eastwood.
