Fairfield Man In Child Pornography Case Arrested On New Charges: Cops
FAIRFIELD, CT — Peter Wheeler, Jr., the 24-year-old Fairfield man already facing child pornography charges, was arrested on new charges Tuesday, in connection with a Fairfield police investigation into “the possible victimization of two juveniles.”
Wheeler was initially arrested on Jan. 23, but police continued the investigation “potential criminal activities involving” him, which led to detectives discovering more possible wrongdoing.
“During the investigation, Detectives discovered that Wheeler had been in contact with a juvenile male high school student through electronic means,” wrote Fairfield Police Sgt. Michael Stahl in a statement. “This communication, which included text messages, phone calls, and social media interactions, occurred between late 2022 and late 2023. While text and photographs were exchanged, contact between Wheeler and the juvenile had been severed prior to the start of this investigation.”
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Through the investigation, police obtained an arrest warrant for Wheeler, charging him with risk of injury/impairing the morals of children.
“The investigation further revealed potential inappropriate contact between Wheeler and an elementary-school-aged female student,” Stahl said.
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Following a forensic interview with the victim, detectives obtained another arrest warrant for Wheeler, this one charging him with fourth-degree sexual assault, and another charge of risk of injury/impairing the morals of children.
Wheeler was arrested Tuesday and charged with the two counts of risk of injury/impairing the morals of children, and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault.
He is being held in lieu of bail of $350,000, and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Wednesday.
Wheeler previously worked as a paraprofessional at Jennings Elementary School in Fairfield, according to the Connecticut Post. Patch reached out to school district officials for comment, but did not immediately receive a reply.
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For privacy concerns, Fairfield police will not release any “information that may lead or allude to [the victims’] identification,” Stahl said.
Fairfield police and the school district continue to actively collaborate on the case, according to Stahl, and the two entities “have maintained continuous communication throughout the investigation.”
Stahl urges parents and caregivers who are concerned about potential contact with Wheeler are to reach out to the Fairfield Police Investigative Division at 203-254-4840.
“The Fairfield Police Department remains committed to the safety and well-being of our residents, particularly our children,” Stahl said. “The recent developments have undoubtedly stirred profound emotions within our community. We understand the impact this may have on students and parents alike and as such, we encourage students and parents to utilize the available resources within the schools and the broader community.
“We are dedicated to thoroughly addressing any actions that pose a threat to our community, especially when involving individuals in positions of trust. Our collaboration with the Fairfield Public Schools is crucial, and we continue to uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency throughout this investigation. The emotional impact on our community is forefront in our minds, and we stand united as community partners to support anyone in need during this difficult time.”
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