'Reprehensible': LI Man Pleads Guilty To Raping Daughter, 5: DA

BRENTWOOD, NY — A Brentwood man pleaded guilty Wednesday to sexually abusing his daughter, 5, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

The name of the man is being withheld to protect the identity of the child, the DA said.

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on July 26, 2021, the man was spending time with his daughter at his apartment.

The child's mother, who was estranged from the man, asked a family member to check on the child after she spoke with the father on the phone and believed that he had been drinking, the DA said.

The family member went into the man's home and saw him actively sexually abusing the child, Tierney said. The family member immediately called 911, resulting in the man's arrest, the DA said.

A sexual assault forensic examination was conducted on the child, which confirmed DNA evidence of abuse, Tierney said.

On Wednesday, the man pleaded guilty before County Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis, to all the charges contained in the indictment, including first-degree rape, a violent felony; first-degree criminal sexual act, a violent felony; first-degree sexual abuse, a violent felony; second- degree sexual abuse, a misdemeanor; and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, Tierney said.

He is due back in court for sentencing on February 9, where he is expected to be sentenced to 16 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision, Tierney said.

He is represented by Scott Zerner, who told Patch he had no comment.

"Today, the rights of this young victim have been vindicated. This defendant disgraced his role as a father when he engaged in the unconscionable abuse of his own daughter," Tierney said. "I want to thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their investigation in this case and the prosecutors for their relentless pursuit of justice for the victim. Now this defendant will be held accountable for his reprehensible crimes."