A teacher from the Peekskill City School District (PCSD) was arrested by the Westchester County District Attorney’s office on Friday, May 30, and charged with promoting and possessing child sexual abuse material.
Brian Mishk, 28, of Yorktown Heights, was charged with promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child, a class D felony, and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, a class E felony.
Mishk was arraigned by Judge Livia Rodriguez in the Town of Cortlandt Court and was held on bail. He is due in Yorktown Justice Court on June 5.
District records from the Board of Education indicate from 2022 to 2025 Mishk was a permanent substitute teacher at Peekskill High School for social studies grades 7 to 12.
He also previously was an August Regents exam proctor and a substitute teacher and tutor for Hass’ Way, an out-of-school suspension program that provides tutoring and counseling for students from Peekskill Middle School and High School.
In a press release, District Attorney Susan Cacace said, “This is yet another sad example of a person entrusted with safeguarding our children violating that trust in the worst way. In this case, Mr. Mishk was allegedly in possession of, and promoting, child sexual abuse material. What makes this even more unnerving is that as a school teacher, he was in constant contact with children.”
In a statement on May 30, Peekskill Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio said the school district is fully cooperating with the DA’s investigation and that there is no indication that any PCSD students were involved.
“The substitute teacher has been formally notified that he is to remain off district property and has had all district communications privileges revoked,” Mauricio said. “District records indicate that the individual was hired as a substitute and was cleared for work through background checks and fingerprinting conducted in conformance with NY State Education Department law.”
He continued, “As always, the safety and security of our students and staff remain paramount at Peekskill Schools. Any student, family and staff who are in need of support should reach out to our administrators or school counseling staff. We will have additional clinical support at the high school available on Monday.”
The county stated the arrest represents the third such case under DA Cacace, who was sworn in late January, to hold individuals in a position of public trust accountable for their alleged conduct towards children.
Thomas Puccini, an Eastchester school official and football coach, was arrested by the Westchester DA’s Office last year in a “sextortion” case. Further investigation of the case resulted in federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography being brought against Puccini on May 21.
Dwayne Murray, a prominent youth basketball coach in Mount Vernon, was arrested by the DA’s Office on May 14 and charged with course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, a Class B violent felony.
“I am grateful for the dedication and steadfastness of the investigators and prosecutors in our office,” Cacace said. “These types of cases can be incredibly taxing on those responsible for delivering justice. I thank all involved for their commitment and sacrifice.”
Anyone who has information regarding any of these cases is encouraged to contact the DA’s Office at (914) 955-TIPS (8477).
The case of the Yorktown Heights man, Mishk, is being investigated by the Westchester County DA’s High Technology Crime Squad and is being prosecuted by Cyber Crimes Bureau Chief Michael Delohery.
