Nassau County Child Solicitors Yield Endangerment Charges

GLEN COVE, NY — A Mount Vernon man faces six counts of endangering the welfare of a child after police said he oversaw several youths who were soliciting unattended for the New York Youth Club in Glen Cove and Port Washington.

Police were called Sunday for report that children were soliciting in the area. A 13-year-old in front of a Walgreens store on Forest Avenue told police he was soliciting for the New York Youth Club, but that his supervisor was elsewhere.

A 14-year-old in front of a Starbucks location on Glen Cove Avenue also said he was soliciting for the club. When police contacted their supervisor, Robert Blackwood, he indicated he was a half-hour away, but would head to the Glen Cove Police Department.

Around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Blackwood told police he oversaw six child solicitors who were working for him in the Glen Cove and Port Washington area. He said they had all been picked up and were accounted for.

But investigators determined that wasn't the case. The youths had not been picked up and had continued soliciting. A 13-year-old was found in front of a Stop and Shop on Forest Avenue, and Port Washington police officers found three child solicitors — ages 13 and 14 — at various businesses. Those youths, too, were soliciting for the New York Youth Club under Blackwood, police said.

The children told investigators Blackwood took their cell phones and refused to let them keep them while they were out soliciting.

Glen Cove police arrested Blackwood on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and soliciting without a permit. He remains jailed on $10,000 bail.

"Thankfully all the youths were returned safely to their families," Glen Cove police said in a statement.

Detective John Nagle, of Glen Cove police, told Patch on Tuesday the charges stemmed from the totality of what was going on. The kids were left unsupervised to solicit donations for the organization with no way to communicate.

They were offering people coloring books, candy, peanut butter brittle, dog treats and candles.

The New York Youth Club describes itself as the "Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for kids who would never join the Scouts."

"They're good kids who, because of their cultural influences require a different 'flavor' to appeal to their ethnic palates," the organization writes on its website. "Teens across America are falling victim to myriad crimes, enticements, and emotional stresses that have conspired to ruin their lives. NYYC is the alternative that speaks their language - the vehicle to relieve them from the ills of their communities."

A number listed on the organization's website wasn't in service.