Southampton, NY - March 24, 2017 - A Huntington man who inappropriately touched an 8-year-old girl at the Huntington Library pleaded guilty today during pretrial hearings in criminal court in Riverhead, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.
On January 3, 2016 Christopher Elgut, 29, approached the child as she stood behind her mother at a library counter, moving the victim behind book carts where he inappropriately touched her.
Elgut fled the building and was arrested approximately 20 minutes later by Second Precinct Patrol officers. Police also charged the defendant with a violation after finding a bag of marijuana in his pants pocket.
During hearings before State Supreme Court Justice Mark Cohen this afternoon, Elgut pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor sex abuse charges, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of marijuana.
Justice Cohen set April 24 as Elgut’s sentencing date and conditionally promised the defendant a sentence of three years’ imprisonment and three years post release supervision. The defendant will also have to register as a sex offender.
An order of protection was issued on behalf of the juvenile victim.