Teacher preys on kids, gets prison time

WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WIVB) - He wove a web of deceit, luring young students and others into the seedy world of child porn. Now, the former West Seneca teacher is doing hard time.

Former West Seneca teacher Timothy Bek will now serve 30 years in federal prison, because somewhere along the line he stopped helping children and began preying on them, and requesting what prosecutors describe as disturbing photos of teenage boys.

U.S. Attorney William Hochul said, “He was engaging in some of the most vile conduct frankly I have seen.”

Federal prosecutors say Timothy Bek used his position as a teacher to prey on kids.

Former Principal of West Seneca West Jon MacSwan said, “Tim was a student at West Seneca West, a student teacher, he was one of West.”

MacSwan said, “The depths and the methodical approach that was taken was shocking, it was something I had never seen before and hope to never see again.”

The FBI caught on to Bek, after a sting operation into his brother’s use of child pornography. They found more than 13,000 images, and dozens of videos on Bek’s computer.

According to officials, Bek used a fake Facebook account, posing as a 16-year-old girl named Sarah Grayson, to convince teen boys, even students he knew, to send lurid photos, then blackmailing them to send even more.

“In looking today at Timothy Bek, I think the public truly sees the face of evil,” said Hochul.

Bek was convicted of possessing and producing child pornography. During his sentencing, he said he won’t make any excuses for what he did.