April 13, 2026 · Updated April 13, 2026
A Suffolk County Community College adjunct professor from Port Jefferson faces a seven-count federal indictment after the FBI says he tried to meet a 13-year-old for sex. Philip Schuler, 53, was arrested in January after showing up to a park in Valley Stream where he expected to meet the girl -- who was actually an undercover agent.
Philip Schuler, a 53-year-old adjunct history professor at Suffolk County Community College, has been indicted on seven federal counts -- including attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and child pornography charges -- after the FBI says he tried to arrange a sexual encounter with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Schuler, a Port Jefferson resident who taught at the SCCC campus in Selden, was arrested on January 7 and ordered held without bail.
A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Schuler in the Eastern District of New York. The charges include attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, along with multiple child pornography counts. According to court filings, investigators recovered approximately 400 images and videos of child sexual abuse material from Schuler's electronics.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks ordered Schuler detained pending trial after his arraignment in federal court in Central Islip. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. His attorney, Felipe Garcia, has said only that Schuler "is presumed innocent."
The case traces back to September 2025, when a nonprofit called the Decoy Project tipped off the FBI. The organization, which works with law enforcement to identify online predators, flagged Schuler after he engaged in sexually explicit chats with someone posing as a minor on social media.
Acting on that tip, an FBI agent created an undercover persona -- "Chloe," a 13-year-old girl -- on Discord in late October 2025. Over the next several months, Schuler and "Chloe" communicated almost daily. Federal prosecutors allege Schuler discussed taking the girl's virginity, masturbated during a video call, and sent explicit images.
On January 6, Schuler and the undercover agent made plans to meet in person the following day. When the agent mentioned she could not find condoms, Schuler allegedly replied, "I've got that covered."
The next morning, Schuler rented a motel room in Merrick before driving to Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park in Valley Stream, where the meeting was supposed to happen. FBI agents were waiting. Inside the motel room, investigators found spermicide, gifts intended for the girl, and a laptop.
After his arrest, Schuler told agents he was "in love" with Chloe and claimed he only wanted to meet her to see if she was real. He denied planning any sexual contact -- despite the motel room and its contents.
Yes. Federal authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Schuler allegedly told the undercover agent during their Discord conversations that he had previously had sex with a different minor at least 12 times. Microsoft also flagged an upload from an email address linked to Schuler in November 2025, which led to the child pornography charges in the indictment.
The prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation.
In a statement, the college said: "Upon learning of these allegations, the adjunct part-time instructor was immediately placed on leave and will not be performing any instructional or other duties pending investigation." Schuler had been teaching history courses at the SUNY school's Selden campus.
The case has also drawn attention to the Decoy Project, the Florida-based nonprofit whose tip initiated the investigation. The group, founded in 2025, says it works directly with law enforcement rather than confronting suspects publicly. Schuler's arrest is one of two cases the organization says it has helped bring to authorities so far.
