James Finch, 48, of Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead pleaded not guilty to possession of child pornography during his arraignment Friday in Town Justice Court.
Suffolk Police Detective Frank Giardina said the retired U.S. Navy officer had numerous photos of children under 16 "engaging in sexual acts or exposing their genitals in a lewd manner."
Along with Mr. Finch's computers, police took assorted CDs and DVDs from his home, unit 4C in the sprawling Fairfield complex near Peconic Bay Medical Center, authorities said. Admissions Mr. Finch allegedly made to detectives bolstered the criminal complaint, Detective Giardina said.
The Colorado native, wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt that read "Lucky Dog," was led in handcuffs from Riverhead Police headquarters about 10 a.m. Friday to Town Justice Court, where he was ordered to be held on $10,000 bail.
Mr. Finch's court-appointed attorney, Steven DeVito, had asked for Mr. Finch to be either released on his own recognizance or to have his bail reduced to $1,000, citing his 24 years in the Navy, an honorable discharge and a clean record.
Assistant district attorney Brendan McGill had recommended the assistant Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps instructor be held on $10,000, noting Mr. Finch had only lived in Riverhead for two years, and "if convicted, his life as he knows it changes substantially."
Riverhead Central School District Superintendent Diane Scricca said she could not make specific comments on Mr. Finch, who retired from the Navy as a chief gunner's mate.
"We are working to support our children in the school," she said. "We have put together a crisis team to help our children through this very difficult time."
Assistant Superintendent Nancy Carney added later that Mr. Finch had been banned from school grounds.
Mr. Finch was hired in June 2007 and is in his second year with the district.
"There was a piece of me that wasn't surprised," said Riverhead High School senior Emil Breitenbach, 18, a former ROTC student. "You knew something was not quite right."
Mr. Breitenbach, who joined the NJROTC program as a freshman and stepped down after his junior year, described Mr. Finch as somewhat aloof around the kids.
He also said Mr. Finch didn't seem like much of a teacher, noting that he did not believe "Chief Finch" had any prior teaching experience.
At the time of Mr. Finch's hiring, parents and students had complained that students in the NJROTC program were unable to attend many of the field trips and drills they normally did because the program had only one instructor. The previous assistant instructor retired due to an injury.
The parents and students had urged the Riverhead school board for months to hire an assistant, but board members said it was difficult to find someone to fill the position.
Mr. Breitenbach's mother, Diane, said the arrest alone will deliver a blow to the program, as once again students will not be able to attend the all-important out-of-state trips.
"Travel is virtually impossible with only one instructor," she said. "What a shame. It's a good program. They do wonderful things but this is a real blemish I think."
Mr. Finch is divorced and has two children in New England, one of his neighbors said.
"This is a shock," said the neighbor, adding that she spoke with Mr. Finch often since he moved to the complex about a year ago.
She said Mr. Finch wore his Navy uniform often and would help shovel his neighbors' walks after snowfalls.
"He was such a nice guy," she said.