Crime & Safety
Carmel Cops: Man Faces Felony Following Facebook Activity With Young Girl
The 12-year-old's father took over the account and posed as the girl before the defendant allegedly sent a nude picture to her cell phone, authorities say.
Patch thanks the Carmel Police Department for provided the below information, which does not indicate a conviction.
On 7/22/12 a male complainant responded to Carmel Police Headquarters and advised Detective Michael Russo that a friend/acquaintance that he met in a motorcycle club that they both belonged to, had contacted his 12-year-old daughter via the Internet. Apparently, the friend/acquaintance had befriended the father and observed photos of his daughter on his Facebook page. The friend later attempted to contact his daughter and became “friends” with her on her Facebook page.
The friend began to make inappropriate comments to the daughter and asked for photos of the daughter in a “sexual manner,” knowing that she was only 12-years-old. The father took over his daughter’s Facebook account posing as his daughter, and the friend sent a nude photo of himself to his daughter’s cell phone.
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On 7/23/12 Detective Michael Russo requested the assistance of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office (high tech crime unit.) Investigator Grascia took over the daughter’s Facebook account and for the next week took over her identity with assistance from the Carmel Police detectives.
The suspect attempted to make arrangements to meet with the 12-year-old girl in a hotel near her home for a sexual encounter. On 8/10/12, after a lengthy investigation, analyzing computer and cell phone records of the victim, and consultation with the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, detectives responded to the suspect’s residence in Nassau County. After interviewing the suspect, an arrest warrant was secured, and Anthony Petretti, age 31, a Nassau County resident, was placed under arrest.
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A search warrant was also executed at the suspect’s residence and two computers and a cell phone were taken into evidence. Mr. Petretti is charged with attempted disseminating of indecent material to a minor, first Degree (an E felony.)
He was arraigned before Putnam County Superior Court Judge James Reitz and remanded to the Putnam County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.
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