Indianapolis, IN — Julian Wachner, a once-renowned conductor and composer, was sentenced Wednesday to nearly six years of probation following his guilty plea to five counts of possessing child sex abuse material. The ruling was issued by Indiana’s Marion Superior Court.
In addition to the probation, Wachner is required to register as a sex offender. He will receive credit for five days already served in jail, according to court documents. The sentence was part of a July plea agreement in which Wachner also pleaded guilty to one count of cocaine possession and waived his right to appeal.
At the time of his arrest in August 2025, Wachner was working as a fourth-grade math teacher at the Invent Learning Hub, a charter school in Indianapolis. This position came after his international career as a conductor and composer had significantly declined. The school informed NPR that it was unaware of the police investigation at the time of hiring and had performed thorough background checks. Wachner was terminated following his arrest.
According to 2025 charging documents from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Wachner admitted to using cryptocurrency hundreds of times over several years to purchase videos depicting children ranging in age from approximately one to 16. Police stated that Wachner disclosed a specific preference for material involving children between the ages of 6 and 13.
Wachner was originally charged with 10 counts of possession of child sex abuse material depicting children under 12, along with the cocaine charge. Under the plea deal, he pleaded guilty to five of the child abuse material counts.
Before his fall from grace, Wachner was highly acclaimed in the classical music world. He had recorded over a dozen albums, was twice nominated for Grammy Awards as a conductor, and performed with major orchestras globally, including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. From until 2022, he served as the director of music and the arts at Trinity Church Wall Street, one of New York City’s wealthiest and most prominent churches, known for its youth chorus.
Wachner was dismissed from his position at Trinity in 2022 following revelations reported by The New York Times.
It’s horrifying that he was conducting a youth choir for years before the New York Times exposed him in 2022.
Can anyone explain why he only pleaded to five counts when there were ten original charges? The math doesn’t add up.
I’m confused. A fourth-grade math teacher with this history? Schools need better vigilance, not just background checks.
Six years probation feels shockingly light for possessing material depicting children as young as one. Justice was not served here.