Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 39-year-old Daniel W. Syracuse of Town of Tonawanda pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor). As part of the plea, the defendant resigned his New York State teaching licenses.

The defendant admitted that he knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare a child who was less than 17-year-old by exchanging sexually explicit messages and images with a juvenile. The defendant conducted the communication through text messages and a social media application in 2015. The defendant was working as a track coach at Williamsville South High School at the time of the crime.

Syracuse faces a maximum of one year in jail when he is sentenced on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to remain released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail.   

DA Flynn commends Detective Ronald Smith, Detective Daniel Quinlan, Detective Edward Solak, and Detective Daniel McCollum of the Amherst Police Department for their work in this investigation.   

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Meredith M. Mohun of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.