Katonah Worried In 2011 When Level 3 Sex Offender Moved In

KATONAH, NY — The news that a registered sex offender was arrested in Katonah Monday brought memories back to the Westchester community when he first moved there.

David Ohnmacht, 36, was accused of sexually exploiting a minor, according to Joon H. Kim, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The complaint against Ohnmacht said that he got a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, video record it and send it to him via Instagram.

The complaint also charged that he engaged in the conduct while being a registered sexual offender.

Ohnmacht, Level 3 sex offender, was being held without bail.

His designation, according to the state Sex Offenders Registry, is “sexually violent offender.”

The crimes for which he was previously convicted were rape and sodomy against teenage girls, ranging in age from 13 to 15.

He met some of the teens through his jobs, which included birthday part DJ, children’s theater worker, ice cream truck driver and camp counselor.

In addition to the rape and sodomy, other charges included possessing pictures of a sexual performance by a child.

Law enforcement officials said they found more than 1,000 pornographic images on his computer.

Ohnmacht moved to Bedford Hills in 2011.

A community meeting was held at the time with the Bedford police department requesting a speaker from the Westchester County District Attorney’s office.

Ohnmacht told WCBS in 2011 that he had worked on his problem in prison and that people shouldn't fear him.

One resident of the neighborhood into which Ohnmacht moved wrote a post on Patch saying that she felt helpless after finding out that a Level 3 sex offender was living near her and her three children.

Lena Roy wrote, “I am writing because I have been feeling helpless since I heard the news two days ago. What can I do” I can’t make it/him go away. But I can write.”

She said she wanted to believe in rehabilitation. She was a psychotherapist for years.

“But when it comes to a repeat offender kidnapping and raping children, my heart not only weeps, but ends up losing the muscles of tolerance that I have built up over the years,” Roy wrote.

A neighbor suggested she write to her local congressman.

“There is power in numbers and in words, in writing,” Roy wrote.

For information about the state sex offender registry and where to get help if you are a victim of sexual abuse, go here.

Photo credit: NYS Sex Offender Registry.