Editor’s Note: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing. The Times Leader has omitted some of the most graphic elements, but publishes the following to give an accurate depiction of the alleged crimes.
PITTSTON — The Pittston Area School District band director has been fired and faces multiple criminal charges for alleged sexual acts with students.
Brendan Carter, 28, of Falls Township, faces four counts of corruption of minors, three counts of indecent assault and one count each of child pornography and indecent exposure.
He is accused of being involved in games of a sexual nature with five boys ages 16 and 17. The games involved participants exposing themselves to each other, fondling and other activities.
Pittston Area Solicitor Samuel A. Falcone Jr. said the school district first received notice of an allegation involving Carter the morning of Oct. 22 and immediately contacted the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.
By the end of that day, district officials terminated Carter and prohibited him from further contact with students on school grounds, Falcone said.
The solicitor declined to discuss the allegations.
“We’re very cautious and careful. We don’t want to compromise the ongoing criminal case now initiated by the district attorney’s office,” Falcone said. “We want the justice system to do its job.”
Carter was arraigned Monday afternoon before District Judge Alexandra Kokura Kravitz and committed to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $125,000 bail.
According to a criminal affidavit:
The five boys – identified as Victims 1 through 5 – told investigators Carter engaged in sexual discussions and activities with them.
Victim 1 told authorities that Carter solicited nude photos of him.
Victim 1 also said Carter exposed himself to him in the maintenance storage garage.
Victim 2 said during his junior year, 2014-2015, and senior year, 2015-2016, he would play the game “Truth or Dare” with fellow band members and Carter on the school bus while traveling to events.
The victim said Carter would make up the dares which involved the students exposing themselves and fondling each other.
Victim 2 said Carter would often ask about the size of his genitals while playing the “Truth or Dare” games.
Victim 3 recalls hearing Carter tell another male band member to inappropriately touch another band member.
Victim 4, who attended a different high school, took private music lessons with Carter. During a private lesson, Carter said to him, “In 365 days, I wanna compare penises when you’re 18.”
Victim 5 told authorities he never sent Carter a nude photo but somehow Carter had a nude photo of the victim stored on his iPhone.
Police interview
Also according to the affidavit:
On Oct. 22, Carter agreed to an interview with authorities and waived his Miranda rights.
Carter told authorities he’s been working with the Pittston Area band since 2010, serving as the assistant director, before being promoted to band director in 2012, a position he held until last week.
Carter acknowledged students played the “Truth or Dare” game on the bus. He said when he learned about students’ behavior, he sat in the back of the bus to stop any physical abuse.
He said he knew about some of the acts the victims performed on the bus but he never attempted to stop them or report the student’s actions to the school administration.
Carter told authorities he saw a nude photo of Victim 5 because a girl showed it to him. He said another male student showed him two nude photos of Victim 5.
Carter had numerous nude photos of male students and one female student saved on his iPhone and his Snapchat account. And he told authorities he would ask students if they would show him nude photos of a minor male student.
He also admitted to other incidents not described here, the affidavit states.
During another incident, Carter said he felt pressured to expose himself to four high school band students in the band room.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Nov. 13 before Kravitz.
Jennifer Learn-Andes contributed to this report.
