Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney yesterday announced that a jury found a 43-year-old Shirley man guilty of Rape, Course of Sexual Conduct
Against a Child, and other related offenses, that he committed against his stepdaughter who was just nine years old when the sexual abuse began.
“This defendant took advantage of the trust that his family placed in him when he began sexually abusing his stepdaughter,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Thanks to the bravery of this victim in coming forward to testify, this defendant will go to state prison, a place where he can no longer harm children.”
The evidence at trial established that in July 2016, the defendant married the mother of the then nine-year-old victim. That same month, the defendant brought the victim into his bedroom while her mother was at work and subjected her to sexual abuse. The defendant threatened the victim to keep her from telling anyone what he had done. The sexual abuse continued until May 2017, when the relationship between the defendant and the victim’s mother ended and the defendant no longer had access to the victim.
In June 2019, the victim disclosed the abuse to her mother, who then immediately brought her to the hospital and the police were contacted. Following an investigation, law enforcement went to the defendant’s place of employment and placed him under arrest.
On November 17, 2023, the defendant was convicted after a jury trial heard before County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis, of the following charges:
Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
Rape in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; and
Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D violent felony.
The defendant is due back in court for sentencing on December 19, 2023, and faces up to 25 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. The defendant is being represented by Peter Mayer, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dana Castaldo of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Hector Laserna of the Domestic Violence Unit, with investigative assistance from retired Detective Jeannette Morales, formerly of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section, and Suffolk Couty District Attorney Investigator Lorraine Winters.