LI Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Abusing 2 Children: DA

SOUTHOLD, NY — A Southold man, 41, was found guilty after a jury trial of sexually abusing his niece, 5, and raping his ex-fiancé's child, 9, over the course of three years, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Monday.

The District Attorney’s Office did not name the defendant to protect the identities of the children, Tierney said.

The evidence at trial established that in April 2021, the man molested his niece while watching a movie at his girlfriend’s apartment, Tierney said. That night, the child told her mother what happened, and her mother reported the abuse to the Southold Town Police Department, the DA added.

During the police investigation, a child of the man's ex-fiancé also reported having been repeatedly raped by the defendant between 2015 and 2018 when the child was 9 to 12 years old, Tierney said.

The abuse occurred while the man was alone with the child while the child's mother was at work, Tierney said.

The man threatened to hurt the child's family if the child told anyone about the abuse, so the child kept the abuse a secret, Tierney said. The child disclosed the abuse to their therapist once the investigation into the abuse of the man's niece began, Tierney said.

On October 20, the defendant was found guilty after a jury trial heard before County Court
Judge Karen M. Wilutis, for the following charges, Tierney said: One count of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, a violent felony; one count of first-degree sexual abuse, a violent felony; and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, Tierney said.

The defendant is due back in court on November 30 for sentencing, and faces up to 32 years in prison and 20 years of post-release supervision, Tierney said.

The defendant is being presented by Scott Zerner. "While we respect the verdict of the jury, my client has maintained his innocence and testified under oath to that effect, as well," Zerner said.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender, Tierney said.

"This defendant took advantage of the trust that his family and ex-fiancé placed in him, in order to satisfy his own deviant sexual desires," said Tierney. “We commend the child victims who courageously testified about their horrific experiences in court. Without their bravery, this defendant would never have been held accountable for his crimes."