(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Delon Hughes, 34, of Brooklyn, was indicted for Rape in the Third Degree, and other related charges, for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old child he met on the social media site Snapchat.
“The allegation in this case serves as a stark reminder that predators use social media platforms to prey upon and exploit children,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We believe the defendant may have used the social media handles ‘Josephpatri9300’ on Snapchat and ‘Richkid365’ on Instagram. If anyone has been contacted by these usernames or has information about similar incidents, I urge them to contact the Suffolk County Police Department immediately.”
According to the investigation, on June 11, 2025, Hughes allegedly traveled on the Long Island Railroad to Brentwood to meet the victim at the library before walking with her to the Brentwood Fire Department. Once there, Hughes allegedly sexually abused the victim among cars parked behind the fire department.
On August 7, 2025, Hughes was arrested in Queens. Following his arrest, search warrants executed on two of his cell phones led to the discovery of additional social media accounts including the Instagram username “Richkid3651” and Snapchat username “Josephpatri9300.” Both of those usernames had been allegedly used to communicate with the victim.
On August 25, 2025, Hughes was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis for:
- Two counts of Rape in the Third Degree, Class E felonies;
- Two counts of Failure to Register an Internet Identifier, Class E felonies;
- Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A misdemeanors;
- Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and
- Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class B misdemeanor.
Justice Wilutis ordered Hughes held on $350,000 cash, $850,000 bond or $3,500,000 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Hughes is due back in court on September 25, 2025, and faces up to four years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Christopher Cassar, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sean Murphy of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Dario Perito of the Suffolk County Police Department Third Squad.