67 Counts Of Physical Sexual Acts Involving Children: Indictment

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A Westchester grand jury has handed down a 67-count indictment for sex offenses involving children against a 22-year-old New Rochelle man.

On Friday, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced the indictment of a New Rochelle man on 67 counts of physical sexual acts involving children in Westchester County, as well as the creation and possession of images and videos of children engaged in sexual acts, between 2019 and 2023.

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"The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our partners to bring to justice anyone who exploits, abuses or endangers our children through sexual contact or over the internet," Rocah said. "We will continue to engage with families to help arm them with tools to protect our children and offer support for victims who come forward."

Jason Ricketts was indicted by a Westchester County grand jury and arraigned on Thursday, on the following charges:

• Two felony counts of predatory sexual assault against a child.
• Two counts of felony counts of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree.
• Twelve felony counts of use of a child in a sexual performance.
• Seven felony counts of criminal sexual act in the second degree.
• Six counts of felony unlawful surveillance.
• Six felony counts of criminal sexual act in the third degree.
• 34 felony counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child.

After receiving a referral from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), an investigation was conducted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office Child Abuse Bureau, Cyber Crimes Bureau, and criminal investigators with the High Technology Crimes Unit and Special Prosecutions Unit. The District Attorney thanked the NCMEC and the New Rochelle Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.

Ricketts was arrested by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office on Feb. 2, and remains in custody at the Westchester County Jail.

Anyone who may have been victimized or may have information about other possible victims of the defendant is urged to contact the DA’s Office Special Prosecutions Division at (914) 995- 3000. Language assistance is available.

The District Attorney’s Office said it is actively engaged with schools and community groups on safety presentations for protecting minors from the dangers of the internet. For more information, contact the DA’s Office Community Affairs at (914) 995-3317.

The case is being prosecuted by Domestic Violence Deputy Bureau Chief Janelle Armentano and Senior Assistant District Attorney Mollie O’Rourke, both of the Special Prosecutions Division, and Cyber Crimes Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Forbes of the Trials and Investigations Division.