Suspended Music Teacher Arraigned for Attempting to Meet Juvenile Female

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 36-year-old Steven C. DeMart of Amherst has been arraigned before Amherst Town Court Justice Ann M. Nichols on one count of Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class "B" misdemeanor). The defendant was arraigned on Thursday, August 22, 2024.

The defendant is accused of attempting to endanger the welfare of a child by knowingly acting in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of an individual who he believed to a be a child who was less than 17-years-old.

It is alleged that on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the defendant attempted to meet with an individual who he believed to be a 13-year-old child. Later the same day, the defendant allegedly reported the incident to the Amherst Police Department after it was revealed that he had been communicating with an adult who was impersonating a juvenile female.

The defendant allegedly communicated with the person, who he thought was a child, on multiple occasions through social media apps. The defendant is accused of sending a sexually explicit video to the complainant.

The defendant, who was working as a music teacher for the Buffalo Public School District, was suspended from his position after the alleged incident was reported to police.

DeMart is scheduled to return on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. for further proceedings. He was released on his own recognizance as the charge is a non-qualifying offense for bail.

Acting DA Keane commends Detective John Hall of the Amherst Police Department Special Victims Unit for his work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Meredith M. Mohun of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Margaret D. Christ of the Justice Courts Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.