A driving instructor accused of showing three teens pornographic images and videos on a phone during a driving lesson has been arrested, Suffolk County police said.

Mitchell Lerner, 75, worked at Defensive Driving School at 156 Wheeler Rd. in Central Islip, according to investigators. Billed as “Long Island's premier driving school for over 50 years” – the facility also has a classroom at 680 East Jericho Tpke. in Huntington Station.

According to police, Lerner was out with three boys for a lesson in Smithtown, where the incident allegedly occurred on Dec. 22, but investigators were only notified on Jan. 9 after receiving a tip from the New York State Child Abuse Hotline.

Defensive Driving School President Barry Becker told News 12 that the company immediately “wrote up” Lerner as soon as the first student came forward and suspended him once a second teen spoke out.

"Once we knew that there was an issue with anything morally or physically or anything like that with the students in the car, we took action right away," Becker said.

Becker said Lerner is no longer with the company. He added that he had no prior complaints and that he had been driving with the company for the last five to six years.

"I feel horrible that anybody was put in this situation," Becker said. "I have three kids of my own and I know how I would react if they were in the same situation."

Suffolk County police arrested Lerner at his Melville home Sunday afternoon and charged him with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was given a desk appearance ticket, but a date for him to appear at First District Court in Central Islip was not set.

News 12 stopped by his house, which had a Defensive Driving School car in the driveway, but no one answered the door.

Neighbor Patricia Fehlker said she has known Lerner and his family for decades and spoke in his defense.

"I would be shocked," she said. "I have always felt that he was a good man and I hope it is proven to be a misunderstanding."

Investigators are asking anyone with additional information, or who believes they may have been a victim of this crime, to call Third Precinct Investigative Unit officers at 631-854-8326.