Police Say Elderly Babysitter Molested 6-year-old Neighbor

Written by Lanning Taliaferro

Investigators in Putnam County today announced charges in a case they say involved a friendly old neighbor whom parents entrusted with babysitting their young child.

Now Michael Edward Cunningham of Brewster, NY faces three counts of faces three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class “D” felony and a single count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor.

He’s being held at the county jail at $100,000.

Meanwhile, sheriff’s investigators obtained a search warrant for his home at 8 Garden St., where they seized property to include his computer, cameras, and other assorted digital electronic equipment. These items will undergo forensic examinations by the Sheriff’s Identification and Forensics Unit, police said.

The investigation began July 24, when the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office received notice of a complaint of sexual abuse from the from the New York State Child Abuse Registry.

Members of the Sheriff’s Office and the County District Attorney’s Office joined a team from Putnam County’s Child Advocacy Center to investigate.

It is alleged that Cunningham had befriended the parents of the child over a period of time; they then entrusted him with babysitting the infant. While babysitting, Cunningham allegedly subjected the child to sexual contact on three occasions over the past year.

The child is 6.

Cunningham was arraigned before Village of Brewster Justice Richard O’Rourke who sent him to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond—and issued an Order of Protection on behalf of the victim.

Police said the investigation is continuing and further criminal charges may be forthcoming.

They ask anyone whose child may have come in contact with Cunningham to call Investigator John Alfano at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation by calling (845) 225-8060. All calls will be kept confidential.