May 26, 2026. A 29-year-old West Babylon man was found guilty by a Suffolk County jury of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree — a Class B violent felony — and Endangering the Welfare of a Child for repeatedly sexually abusing a girl he was trusted to babysit between the ages of 9 and 12. He faces up to 25 years in prison at sentencing on June 24, 2026.
The Case
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the conviction following a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei.
How the Grooming Began
The defendant was a close family friend whom the child viewed as an “uncle” figure. During the COVID-19 shutdown, he began conducting Zoom calls with the then-9-year-old victim. The calls initially focused on innocuous topics — games, superheroes, and television — before the defendant escalated to sharing pornographic images and videos on his screen while inappropriately touching himself.
The Escalation to In-Person Abuse
Beginning in March 2022, the victim’s mother regularly brought her daughter to the defendant’s home so he could babysit while she worked. During those occasions, the defendant sexually abused the victim.
How the Victim Stopped the Abuse
In April 2023, the victim — then 12 years old — learned through school presentations and internet research that the defendant’s conduct was wrong. She confronted him directly, telling him she did not want him to touch her anymore. The abuse stopped.
Several months later, in February 2024, the victim began experiencing anxiety and panic attacks from the weight of keeping the abuse secret. She disclosed the abuse to her mother, prompting the investigation that led to the defendant’s arrest and prosecution.
The Conviction
On May 22, 2026, the jury convicted the defendant of:
- Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree — Class B violent felony, carrying up to 25 years in prison
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child — Class A misdemeanor
The defendant is due back in court for sentencing on June 24, 2026.
“As a close family friend, this defendant exploited the trust of a child, and the trust of the child’s mother to satisfy his predatory sexual perversion. This conviction is a testament to the courage of this young survivor, who found her own voice and put a stop to the abuse.”
— Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney
Note: The defendant’s name is being withheld by the District Attorney’s office to protect the identity of the child victim.
What Parents Should Know — Recognizing the Signs of Grooming
This case illustrates a textbook grooming pattern that parents and caregivers should understand:
Stage 1: Access and Trust Building The abuser establishes himself as a trusted figure — a family friend, “uncle,” mentor, or babysitter. The family welcomes the relationship because it appears benevolent.
Stage 2: Isolation and Boundary Testing One-on-one access increases (babysitting, video calls, private conversations). The abuser tests boundaries with progressively inappropriate behavior.
Stage 3: Desensitization Exposure to sexual content — in this case, sharing pornographic material during Zoom calls. The goal is to normalize sexual behavior in the child’s mind before physical contact.
Stage 4: Abuse Physical sexual abuse begins once the child has been sufficiently groomed and the abuser has reliable, unsupervised access.
Warning Signs for Parents
- An adult who consistently seeks one-on-one time with your child
- An adult who insists on private communication channels (calls, texts, video chats) with your child
- A child who becomes withdrawn, anxious, or shows sudden behavioral changes
- A child who demonstrates sexual knowledge inappropriate for their age
- An adult who gives your child excessive gifts or special privileges
If Your Child Discloses Abuse
- Believe them. Children rarely fabricate sexual abuse
- Stay calm. Your reaction affects whether the child continues to disclose
- Do not confront the abuser yourself — contact law enforcement immediately
- Call the Suffolk County Police Special Victims Section at (631) 852-6392
- Call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (24/7)
Legal Context
Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree (NY Penal Law §130.75) requires proof that the defendant engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct with a child under 13 over a period of not less than three months. It is classified as a Class B violent felony — the same severity level as first-degree robbery or first-degree assault.
Upon conviction, the defendant faces:
- 5 to 25 years in state prison
- Mandatory sex offender registration (SORA) — likely Level 2 or Level 3
- Post-release supervision of 5-20 years
- Lifetime listing on the New York Sex Offender Registry
The case was prosecuted by ADAs Alexandra Guidarelli and Ashley Moruzzi of the Suffolk County DA’s Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detective Megan Flynn of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section.
Sources: Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office | News12 Long Island | @longisland