Former Parma music teacher has state child porn charges sentencing pushed back

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The former Parma music teacher who admitted to secretly recording his students was scheduled to be sentenced again Tuesday in a different court for similar charges

Philip Close would have been sentenced for state charges Tuesday in connection to his December 2019 arrest after prosecutors say he hid spy cameras throughout his music school, including in the bathroom, but the decision was pushed back until December of 2021.

A search warrant was executed on the school, and authorities found videos of Close inappropriately touching his students and himself during lessons. Prosecutors say between 2012 and 2019, Close produced hundreds of videos of child pornography involving 61 identified minor victims. The youngest was just 4 years old.

Authorities say they found 13 total devices that contained child pornography.

Close pleaded guilty in March to a 74-count indictment, including 61 counts of production of child pornography and 13 counts of possession of material containing child pornography involving minors. He was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison back in August.