LI Man Accused Of Lewd Acts In Front Of 4 Women Since June: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A 20-year-old Ronkonkoma man accused of masturbating in front of two women in Commack and Centereach earlier this month had already been arrested for allegedly committing similar acts in front of two other women in Sayville in June, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday.

Nicholas Critelli, who was arrested Oct. 16 and arraigned the following day on two counts of public lewdness, had previously been released on his own recognizance after being arraigned on two similar charges in July, prosecutors said.

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According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Critelli exposed himself and masturbated in front of four women during separate incidents between June and October.

The latest allegations prompted Tierney to criticize New York's bail laws, which prosecutors said prevented them from requesting bail despite Critelli's previous arrest.

"The defendant's alleged behavior is abhorrent. And New York's broken bail laws allow him to allegedly do this again and again and again," Tierney. "Case after case shows the same pattern: My office is not allowed to ask for bail despite the seriousness of the alleged crimes and the documented repeated behavior. Bail reform is failing New Yorkers, but we will continue to prosecute the four cases against this defendant to secure justice."

Two Incidents In October

According to prosecutors, Critelli was sitting inside his vehicle in a Walmart parking lot in Centereach around 9:40 p.m. Oct. 1 when he allegedly masturbated in full view of a woman walking past his vehicle.

The woman reported the incident to Suffolk County Police.

Nearly two weeks later, on Oct. 14, Critelli was allegedly parked in a Target parking lot in Commack around 9:27 p.m. when he called out to another woman, prosecutors said.

"Oh my god. You're so pretty. Are you from around here?" Critelli allegedly asked the woman while masturbating, according to the DA's office.

The woman also reported the encounter to police.

Following an investigation by Suffolk County Police detectives, Critelli was arrested Oct. 16 around 12:20 p.m. in a parking lot at 1230 Deer Park Avenue in Deer Park.

Previous Allegations In Sayville

Investigators subsequently linked Critelli to two earlier incidents in Sayville, for which he had already been arrested and arraigned, prosecutors said.

On June 4, around 9:53 p.m., Critelli allegedly masturbated in front of a woman in a Target parking lot in Sayville.

Two days later, on June 6, around 4:30 p.m., Critelli was allegedly sitting inside his vehicle in a residential neighborhood in Sayville when he called out to a woman who was walking nearby.

According to prosecutors, Critelli asked the woman for her Snapchat information while masturbating in front of her.

Critelli was arrested June 16 and issued a desk appearance ticket.

On July 6, he was arraigned before District Court Judge Susan Berland on two counts of public lewdness, both class B misdemeanors.

He was released on his own recognizance.

Prosecutors Criticize Bail Restrictions

At the time of the October incidents, Critelli remained out on his own recognizance in connection with the earlier charges.

According to the DA's office, public lewdness is a non-bail-eligible offense under New York law, meaning prosecutors cannot request monetary bail and judges cannot impose it based on those charges.

Critelli was arraigned Oct. 17 before District Court Judge Alonzo Jacobs on two additional counts of public lewdness, both class B misdemeanors.

During the proceeding, prosecutors stated on the record that they would have requested bail if legally permitted to do so, arguing that the repeated allegations demonstrated a danger to the community and potential future victims.

Critelli was placed on supervised release.

He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 4 and is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, which was not immediately available for comment.

Police Believe There May Be Additional Victims

Investigators believe there may be other women who encountered Critelli during similar incidents.

Authorities are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim to contact the Suffolk County Police Department's Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.