Facebook Leads to Rape Charge for Brewster 18-Year-Old

BREWSTER, NY — An 18-year-old village resident who allegedly met his underage victim on Facebook faces rape and other charges. And police suspect more victims are out there.

Christian Salazar-Miguel was arrested on Dec. 21 in Carmel following an investigation into a sexual assault that had allegedly occurred at his residence in Brewster, Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith said.

Police allege that Salazar had sexual intercourse on Nov. 17 with a 13-year old girl that he had met on Facebook. During the course of the investigation, investigators from the Sheriff’s Department also recovered nude photographs that they say Salazar sent to her.

Salazar was interviewed at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Dec. 21, and admitted to both the sexual relationship and the nude photographs, police said. Salazar was then arrested and charged with one count each of:

• Rape in the Second Degree, a felony;
• Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor in the Second Degree, a felony;
• Sexual Misconduct, a misdemeanor;
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor.

He was arraigned before Village of Brewster Justice Richard O’Rourke and committed to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000 cash bail or $300,000 bond pending a future appearance in the Village of Brewster Justice Court.

If found guilty of the most serious felony charge, he could face up to a seven years in a New York State Correctional Facility and a fine of up to $5,000.

Police suspect that additional victims of Salazar may exist. Smith urges any and all to come forward so that they may receive any services they might require and that justice may be served. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (845) 225-4300.