All Saints teacher's aide promised 60 years for child porn filmed at home, school

By Douglass Dowty
Syracuse.com
April 19, 2017

http://www.syracuse.com/crime/index.ssf/2017/04/all_saints_teachers_aide_to_get_60_years_for_child_porn_filmed_at_home_and_schoo.html

Emily Oberst

Syracuse, NY -- A teacher's aide at All Saints Elementary School in Syracuse quietly admitted today that she exploited two young girls -- one less than a year old -- for child pornography at her home and at the school.

Emily Oberst, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and child porn charges in federal court today in exchange for a promised sentence of 60 years in prison. There is no parole in federal prison, so she will not be released early.

Oberst's voice ranged from quiet to quivering during her half-hour plea proceeding.

Oberst is the second to plead guilty in the child porn case. Her boyfriend, Jason Kopp, 41, pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to 235 years in prison.

Today, Oberst admitted that she exploited one girl in 2014 when the victim was less than a year old. Oberst admitted producing pornography with that victim a total of 10 times between Nov. 6, 2014 and March 16, 2016.

She also admitted exploiting a second girl, born in 2011, once in July 2015.

The photos and video included a range of sex abuse, prosecutors said.

When U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby asked Oberst where the abuse took place, she responded in "different locations."

Asked to be specific, Oberst said "at home and at school." She was a teacher's aide at All Saints, a position she described today as a "helper."

One of the victims was a student at All Saints, according to sources. The FBI found naked photos of that child in a school bathroom, the sources said.

All Saints fired Oberst after her arrest last year.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher said in court the biggest reason Oberst got 60 years in prison and Kopp got 235 years is that Kopp had a history of child abuse. Oberst did not have a criminal record before her arrest.

Oberst met Kopp online and the two were romantically involved, sources said.

Under the agreement, Oberst pleaded guilty to the child porn charges, but did not have to plead guilty to the distribution charges.

She faced a maximum of 360 years in prison for the 12 guilty pleas. Appointed defense lawyer Kim Zimmer said afterward that Oberst made a good choice by taking the plea for 60 years.

Fletcher said after court that the evidence against Oberst was overwhelming, so negotiations revolved around what was fair to everyone involved. There was so much evidence that the child victims would not have had to testify at trial, had Oberst declined the plea offer, Fletcher said.

Today's plea is subject to approval by Suddaby, who will review a report of Oberst's past before making his decision. Suddaby called it a "reasonable" plea deal, subject to further investigation.

If the judge decides against the 60-year sentence, Oberst could back out of her plea deal.

Otherwise, sentencing is set for Aug. 18. Oberst remains in custody.

She left court with large red marks visible under each of her eyes.