(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that a 38-year-old Patchogue man[1] was found guilty of Rape after a jury trial for sexually abusing his daughter when she was between the ages of five and 13, and his younger half-sister when she was 15 years old.
“This defendant betrayed the trust of two children in the most heinous way possible, exploiting his position as a family member to commit unspeakable acts of violence,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I commend the tremendous courage of the survivors in coming forward to testify. Their bravery has ensured that this predator will be held accountable and will no longer harm them or other children.”
The evidence at trial established that in September 2013, the defendant began to sexually abuse his daughter when she was just five years old and starting kindergarten. The abuse continued for several years, with the defendant telling the victim not to tell anyone about it because doing so would ruin their family. The last incident occurred right before the victim’s 14th birthday when the defendant climbed into her bed, raped her, and told her to be quiet when she said she was going to tell her mother.
Subsequently, on August 29, 2021, the defendant also sexually abused a second victim, his then 15-year-old half-sister who was spending the night at his house after having come from Manhattan with their father for a visit. While she slept on an air mattress, the defendant crawled in next to her and held her body in a leg lock to keep her from moving as he pulled off her clothing and raped her.
When the older victim reported the incident to the police and an investigation began into that abuse, the younger victim gained the courage to come forward about the abuse that she had endured for years, resulting in the defendant being charged for his conduct toward both children.
On November 24, 2025, the defendant was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei of the following charges:
- Two counts of Rape in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Rape in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
- Five counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D violent felony;
- One count of Rape in the Third Degree, a Class E felony;
- One count of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and
- Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.
The defendant is due back in court on January 7, 2026, for sentencing and faces up to 89 years in prison. He is represented by John Halverson, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa Grier and Janine Santorelli of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Loraine Winters. The investigation was conducted by Detective Kacy McLaughlin, of the Suffolk County Police Department Special Victims Section. The victims were assisted by District Attorney Crime Victim Advocate Sorene Ryan.
[1] The District Attorney is not naming the defendant to protect the identity of the child victims.