QUEENS, N.Y. - A Queens middle school teacher is under arrest for allegedly buying, downloading and trading child pornography.

Eric Paulino, 30, appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court Tuesday and was released on $250,000 bond.

Prosecutors say while searching his residence, Paulino admitted to downloading and trading child porn on his phone.

They say a search of his phone revealed numerous images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The defense attorney says there's no evidence that he did anything inappropriate while at work.

The Education Department says Paulino is being reassigned away from the classroom and will not have any interaction with students.

They say he's been a teacher at I.S. 93 in Ridgewood since 2018.