Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice recently announced that Michael Farrell, 35, formerly a detective in the New York City Police Department, was arrested on Thursday, March 9 and charged with five counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Child, a Class E Felony.

It is alleged that Farrell, of Levittown, as a result of a search of his home computer by the NYPD's Internal Affairs Unit in May of 2005, possessed five images of child pornography. His home computers were searched in connection with charges by the Manhattan D.A.'s office that Farrell was a participant in sexually explicit conversations during February and May of last year with six different undercover NYPD officers posing as minors on the Internet. On May 17 of last year, the charges allege Farrell met with an NYPD female decoy posing as a 14-year-old for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with her. He was charged by the Manhattan D.A. with Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor in the First Degree and Acting in a Manner Injurious to a Child. Farrell was a member of the force since 1992 and resigned after the charges were filed in Manhattan.

A person is guilty of Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Child when, knowing the character and content thereof, he knowingly has in his possession or control any performance which includes sexual conduct of a child less than 16 years of age (Penal Law §263.16).

"Cyber-crime is the crime of the future," said Rice. "We have to devote more law enforcement resources to these investigations. We must match criminals not only in intensity, but also in sophistication. I applaud the work done by the NYPD, the Manhattan D.A.'s Office, and my office to keep the children of the New York City area safe."

Farrell was arraigned on the Nassau County charges in First District Court, Hempstead on Thursday, March 9.