On Tuesday, 57-year-old Scott Denet of Shrub Oak, a retired captain with the Yonkers Fire Department, was arraigned in Yorktown Justice Court on felony charges accusing him of sharing and possessing child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors say Denet is 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. He was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to return to court on June 30.
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced the charges in a statement, according to Yonkers Times. The DA’s release says the files at issue were flagged by child-safety partners and referred to prosecutors, and that the alleged conduct occurred after Denet retired from the Yonkers Fire Department in April 2023. Prosecutors brought the case to justice court for arraignment, and the defendant was released pending further proceedings.
Allegations Described in the Complaint
According to the felony complaint, prosecutors say Denet promoted an obscene sexual performance by a child on or about July 31, 2025, when he allegedly shared a photograph depicting a nude female child on an application called “Thundr.” Prosecutors further allege he possessed a video file found on or about April 24, 2026, that investigators say shows a nude female child engaged in sexual activity. These details are drawn from the complaint and local reporting, as reported by Patch.
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Hi-Tech Unit, with assistance from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the New York State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to local coverage. Prosecutors in the DA’s Cyber Crimes Bureau are handling the matter, and bureau chief Michael Delohery is assigned to the case, according to reporting by Daily Voice.
“Those who possess and share child sexual abuse material are retraumatizing the victims,” DA Susan Cacace said in a statement, adding that her office works with national partners to detect and pursue online child exploitation cases. The DA’s remarks and case announcement are available in local reporting from Yonkers Times.
What the Law Says
Under New York law, promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child is classified as a class D felony, and possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child is a class E felony. Those felony classes carry potential prison exposure under state sentencing rules. Sentencing ranges vary by felony class and by circumstances, including whether an offense is designated as violent. For an overview of felony classes and penalties, see the New York courts’ summary from New York Courts.
What’s Next
Denet was released on his own recognizance after arraignment and is set to return to Yorktown Justice Court on June 30, prosecutors said. The case remains under active investigation, and no criminal conviction has been proven. Denet is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Local reporting with the arraignment details is available from Patch.
