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Fernando Rivas, 'Sesame Street' Composer, in Child Porn Bust

Charleston County Sheriff

Emmy Award-winning 'Sesame Street' composer Fernando Rivas, 59, was arraigned in a South Carolina federal court earlier today, and charged with three separate counts of production, distribution and possession of child pornography.

The Cuban-born children's music composer, who won a Grammy for Best Children's Album in 1998 for his work on 'Elmopalooza,' and wrote music for Disney's 'Handy Manny,' has been charged with coercing a child to "engage in sexually explicit conduct," production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

The charges stem from an April 19 arrest, when FBI agents stormed Rivas' home, discovering photographs of a 4-year-old girl naked and "restrained in handcuffs and other bondage type devices," according Charleston's Post and Courier. Rivas reportedly admitted to handcuffing the child, taking the photos, and sending them to two others by email.

Rivas moved to Charleston in 1998, after a lengthy career in New York City, where he composed music for beloved kids' show 'Sesame Street,' working with singers like Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper and Celia Cruz. Shortly after relocating, Rivas launched a jazz program at Charleston's Porter-Gaud School, where he taught from 2002 to 2009, before resigning "due to increasing work outside of his school obligations."

"We are unaware of any connection between the charges against him and Porter-Gaud, but we are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation," school officials revealed in a statement to the Post and Courier. Rivas has pleaded not guilty, and is currently free on $300,000 bond.

UPDATE: Rivas has pleaded not guilty to claims that he handcuffed and photographed a naked four-year-old girl, according to Atlanta Journal Constitution. Rivas appeared in court on Monday November 21 to dispute the charges of making and distributing child pornography, despite initially admitting to taking the pictures and emailing them to two other men when he was first taken into custody. Rivas has posted his $300,000 (£187,500) bail and has been ordered to remain on house arrest.

Fernando Rivas Performs 'A Piece for Danny'

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107 Comments

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carlbfree

House arrest? Who has he paid off!!, one .45 auto to the head. That would cure him from his sickness

November 23 2011 at 4:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wadisplace

Did he make Porn movies with "Big" Bird and Miss Piggy???

November 23 2011 at 1:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to wadisplace's comment
xtalorianx

Have you not been reading the news Miss piggy had sex with Kermit

November 23 2011 at 4:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brennemanbelkin

End times.

November 23 2011 at 12:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RainsOnParades

im tired of seeing all this child porn stuff in the news... it really strikes a nerve... i dont like to wish harm on anyone but there are a select few that deserve what theyre gonna get behind bars...

November 22 2011 at 11:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GPGamble

brought to you by the letter "P" and the number 69...

November 22 2011 at 10:07 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to GPGamble's comment
wadisplace

ROFLMAO

November 23 2011 at 1:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
travelergtoo

Only a stupid Cuban would handcuff a naked child and then take a photo of it. Cubans are the dumbest people on earth.

November 22 2011 at 8:54 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
icuz4

Latin families are the #1 abusers of children in America. Thats why smuggling of child sex slaves from south of the border is the dug cartels second largest criminal activity for them. Every year hundreds of children are abducted by hispanics in the US.

November 22 2011 at 7:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon

execute all men regardless of what they did, and no more children will be harmed...all men are ticking time bombs about to harm kids

November 22 2011 at 7:31 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jon's comment
millerangusfarm

Oh really? Obviously you haven't been reading all of the headlines lately because it seems that there are just as many ticking time bomb women as there are men.

November 22 2011 at 10:17 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to millerangusfarm's comment
Michael

Heck, kill them all and let God sort them out.

November 22 2011 at 11:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
Jeff and Beth

2 or 4 who cares, nail his pecker to a wall, give him a hot butter knife and set the house on fire.
p.s. satchskat your an idiot, friends should be supervised with children, men and women, not all men(like fathers).

November 22 2011 at 6:40 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jeff and Beth's comment
millerangusfarm

Amen

November 22 2011 at 10:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
satchskat

men should always be supervised around children. no exceptions. especially fathers. 94% of elementary school teachers are female. this isn't a coincidence.

November 22 2011 at 6:06 PM Report abuse -7 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to satchskat's comment
icuz4

94% of teachers that sexually abuse their students are women.

November 22 2011 at 7:41 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to icuz4's comment
Jon

Women have no interest in sex, how can you say that

November 22 2011 at 7:48 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down
millerangusfarm

I agree with Jeff and Beth. Your an idiot.

November 22 2011 at 10:18 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply