Topline: A Long Island college professor was arraigned in federal court on a seven-count indictment alleging he tried to entice a 13-year-old girl he believed he had met on Discord and possessed child sexual abuse material.
Published: April 15, 2026 10:00 am ET
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CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Long Island college professor was arraigned Friday in federal court on a seven-count indictment charging him with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and child pornography offenses after prosecutors said he spent months communicating with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 13-year-old girl.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Philip Schuler, 53, of Port Jefferson, was arraigned in Central Islip before U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks, who ordered him detained pending trial. Federal prosecutors said Schuler was an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College at the time of the charged conduct and had previously been arrested on a criminal complaint in January 2026.
Prosecutors said the case began in October 2025 after the FBI received a tip from Decoy Project Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and reporting online predators. Court filings say an FBI agent working undercover posed on Discord as a 13-year-old girl named Chloe and began communicating with Schuler.
During what prosecutors described as almost daily communications, Schuler allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover agent, talked about taking the girl’s virginity, masturbated during a video call, and sent a photograph of his penis.
Federal prosecutors said Schuler arranged on Jan. 7, 2026, to meet the undercover agent at Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park in Valley Stream and was arrested by FBI agents when he arrived. Investigators said Schuler had a key to a motel room he had rented earlier that day so he and the purported child could be alone.
Law enforcement recovered spermicide, gifts for the undercover agent, and a laptop computer, among other items, from the motel room, prosecutors said. A later court-authorized search of Schuler’s electronics allegedly uncovered about 400 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said Schuler repeatedly expressed interest in having a sexual relationship with someone he believed was a 13-year-old child and said his office would vigorously prosecute sexual predators who target children. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said Schuler allegedly sent explicit photos and messages to a supposed teenage girl before planning to sexually abuse her in person.
The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Long Island Division. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Scahill is in charge of the prosecution, according to the Justice Department.
If convicted, Schuler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, prosecutors said. The case is docketed in the Eastern District of New York as 26-CR-77 (SJB).
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Long Island College Professor Charged With Attempted Enticement of a Minor
A Long Island college professor was arraigned in federal court on a seven-count indictment alleging he tried to entice a 13-year-old girl he believed he had met on Discord and possessed child sexual abuse material.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: April 15, 2026 10:00 am ET
AI generated image.
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Long Island college professor was arraigned Friday in federal court on a seven-count indictment charging him with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and child pornography offenses after prosecutors said he spent months communicating with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 13-year-old girl.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Philip Schuler, 53, of Port Jefferson, was arraigned in Central Islip before U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks, who ordered him detained pending trial. Federal prosecutors said Schuler was an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College at the time of the charged conduct and had previously been arrested on a criminal complaint in January 2026.
Prosecutors said the case began in October 2025 after the FBI received a tip from Decoy Project Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and reporting online predators. Court filings say an FBI agent working undercover posed on Discord as a 13-year-old girl named Chloe and began communicating with Schuler.
During what prosecutors described as almost daily communications, Schuler allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover agent, talked about taking the girl’s virginity, masturbated during a video call, and sent a photograph of his penis.
Federal prosecutors said Schuler arranged on Jan. 7, 2026, to meet the undercover agent at Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park in Valley Stream and was arrested by FBI agents when he arrived. Investigators said Schuler had a key to a motel room he had rented earlier that day so he and the purported child could be alone.
Law enforcement recovered spermicide, gifts for the undercover agent, and a laptop computer, among other items, from the motel room, prosecutors said. A later court-authorized search of Schuler’s electronics allegedly uncovered about 400 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said Schuler repeatedly expressed interest in having a sexual relationship with someone he believed was a 13-year-old child and said his office would vigorously prosecute sexual predators who target children. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said Schuler allegedly sent explicit photos and messages to a supposed teenage girl before planning to sexually abuse her in person.
The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Long Island Division. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Scahill is in charge of the prosecution, according to the Justice Department.
If convicted, Schuler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, prosecutors said. The case is docketed in the Eastern District of New York as 26-CR-77 (SJB).
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Long Island College Professor Charged With Attempted Enticement of a Minor
A Long Island college professor was arraigned in federal court on a seven-count indictment alleging he tried to entice a 13-year-old girl he believed he had met on Discord and possessed child sexual abuse material.
By Aaron Stephensen
Published: April 15, 2026 10:00 am ET
AI generated image.
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Long Island college professor was arraigned Friday in federal court on a seven-count indictment charging him with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and child pornography offenses after prosecutors said he spent months communicating with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 13-year-old girl.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Philip Schuler, 53, of Port Jefferson, was arraigned in Central Islip before U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks, who ordered him detained pending trial. Federal prosecutors said Schuler was an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College at the time of the charged conduct and had previously been arrested on a criminal complaint in January 2026.
Prosecutors said the case began in October 2025 after the FBI received a tip from Decoy Project Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying and reporting online predators. Court filings say an FBI agent working undercover posed on Discord as a 13-year-old girl named Chloe and began communicating with Schuler.
During what prosecutors described as almost daily communications, Schuler allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover agent, talked about taking the girl’s virginity, masturbated during a video call, and sent a photograph of his penis.
Federal prosecutors said Schuler arranged on Jan. 7, 2026, to meet the undercover agent at Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park in Valley Stream and was arrested by FBI agents when he arrived. Investigators said Schuler had a key to a motel room he had rented earlier that day so he and the purported child could be alone.
Law enforcement recovered spermicide, gifts for the undercover agent, and a laptop computer, among other items, from the motel room, prosecutors said. A later court-authorized search of Schuler’s electronics allegedly uncovered about 400 images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said Schuler repeatedly expressed interest in having a sexual relationship with someone he believed was a 13-year-old child and said his office would vigorously prosecute sexual predators who target children. FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said Schuler allegedly sent explicit photos and messages to a supposed teenage girl before planning to sexually abuse her in person.
The case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Long Island Division. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Scahill is in charge of the prosecution, according to the Justice Department.
If convicted, Schuler faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, prosecutors said. The case is docketed in the Eastern District of New York as 26-CR-77 (SJB).
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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