From NPR · · 1 min
Former Conductor Sentenced for Child Abuse Material
Julian Wachner receives probation and sex offender registration after pleading guilty to child abuse material and drug charges.
In brief
Julian Wachner receives probation and sex offender registration after pleading guilty to child abuse material and drug charges. A high-profile conductor's career ended in criminal convictions after investigators uncovered extensive purchases of illicit material. Originally reported by NPR.
Sentenced to probation
Former conductor Julian Wachner was sentenced to nearly six years of probation after pleading guilty to five counts of possessing child sex abuse material and one count of cocaine possession. He must register as a sex offender.
Arrested at an elementary school
Wachner was arrested in August 2025 while working as a fourth-grade math teacher at an Indianapolis charter school. School officials fired him immediately, stating they were unaware he was under investigation.
Used cryptocurrency for purchases
Charging documents show Wachner admitted to using cryptocurrency hundreds of times over several years to buy videos depicting abuse of children ranging from ages 1 to 16.
A prominent music career
Before his arrest, Wachner was a two-time Grammy-nominated conductor who led major international orchestras and served as music director at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City.
Prior misconduct allegations
Wachner was ousted from Trinity Church in 2022 following sexual assault allegations published in the press. A subsequent defamation lawsuit he filed against Juilliard was dismissed in 2023.
In short
A high-profile conductor's career ended in criminal convictions after investigators uncovered extensive purchases of illicit material.
