Emmy Award-winning 'Sesame Street' composer Fernando Rivas, 59, was arraigned in a South Carolina federal court earlier today, and charged with three separate counts of production, distribution and possession of child pornography.
The Cuban-born children's music composer, who won a Grammy for Best Children's Album in 1998 for his work on 'Elmopalooza,' and wrote music for Disney's 'Handy Manny,' has been charged with coercing a child to "engage in sexually explicit conduct," production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
The charges stem from an April 19 arrest, when FBI agents stormed Rivas' home, discovering photographs of a 4-year-old girl naked and "restrained in handcuffs and other bondage type devices," according Charleston's Post and Courier. Rivas reportedly admitted to handcuffing the child, taking the photos, and sending them to two others by email.
Rivas moved to Charleston in 1998, after a lengthy career in New York City, where he composed music for beloved kids' show 'Sesame Street,' working with singers like Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper and Celia Cruz. Shortly after relocating, Rivas launched a jazz program at Charleston's Porter-Gaud School, where he taught from 2002 to 2009, before resigning "due to increasing work outside of his school obligations."
"We are unaware of any connection between the charges against him and Porter-Gaud, but we are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation," school officials revealed in a statement to the Post and Courier. Rivas has pleaded not guilty, and is currently free on $300,000 bond.
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The Cuban-born children's music composer, who won a Grammy for Best Children's Album in 1998 for his work on 'Elmopalooza,' and wrote music for Disney's 'Handy Manny,' has been charged with coercing a child to "engage in sexually explicit conduct," production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
The charges stem from an April 19 arrest, when FBI agents stormed Rivas' home, discovering photographs of a 4-year-old girl naked and "restrained in handcuffs and other bondage type devices," according Charleston's Post and Courier. Rivas reportedly admitted to handcuffing the child, taking the photos, and sending them to two others by email.
Rivas moved to Charleston in 1998, after a lengthy career in New York City, where he composed music for beloved kids' show 'Sesame Street,' working with singers like Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper and Celia Cruz. Shortly after relocating, Rivas launched a jazz program at Charleston's Porter-Gaud School, where he taught from 2002 to 2009, before resigning "due to increasing work outside of his school obligations."
"We are unaware of any connection between the charges against him and Porter-Gaud, but we are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation," school officials revealed in a statement to the Post and Courier. Rivas has pleaded not guilty, and is currently free on $300,000 bond.
http://www.spinner.com/2011/11/21/f...-composer-child-porn/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook
