NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Rhony Sanchez, 35, a youth swim instructor in Westchester County for the past two decades, was arrested Thursday on child-pornography charges, according to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. He was arraigned at Yonkers City Court on March 3rd.
Bail was set at $250,000. A family member paid 10% of that in cash. Sanchez is next due in Yonkers City Court on Friday March 11.
Sanchez was charged with two felony child-pornography counts, Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance of a Child, a Class D Felony and Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance of a Child, a Class E Felony.
Sanchez was arrested at his home at 24 Morris Crescent in Yonkers, NY after investigators traced online activity on July 26, 2015 to his computer. The computer and other electronic devices were seized. There was no count of the number of images or video on his computer.
According to Robert Wolf, a DA spokesperson, Rhony Sanchez worked as a swim instructor and lifeguard for 10 years at Beach Point Yacht Club in Mamaroneck, NY and as a swim instructor for 12 years at JCC-MidWestchester in New Rochelle, NY. The JCCMW has a Scarsdale zip code but is located in New Rochelle.
The JCC issued a statement that they were cooperating with investigators. Sanchez was suspended on the day of his arrest and has been barred from JCC property.
The Beach Point Yacht Club did respond to a request for comment.
Sources familiar with the investigation tell Talk of the Sound that the charges related to “looking not touching” and that there no known images of children associated with his employers. The investigation is ongoing.
