Southold Man Convicted of Sexually Abusing 2 Kids

A 41-year-old Southold man was convicted of sexually abusing his 5-year-old niece and raping his ex-fiancé’s 9-year-old child over a three-year span, Suffolk County prosecutors said.  

The man, whose name authorities did not release in order to protect the identity of children who were victims of sex crimes, was convicted October 20 in Suffolk County court of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

“This defendant took advantage of the trust that his family and ex-fiancé placed in him, in order  to satisfy his own deviant sexual desires,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. “We commend the child victims who courageously testified about their horrific experiences in court. Without their bravery, this defendant would never have been held accountable for his crimes.”  

Prosecutors said the man molested his niece in April 2021 and after she told her mother what happened, she reported the abuse to the Southold Town Police Department, who later determined that he also raped his ex-fiancé’s child while the mother was at work between 2015 and 2018.

The second child was scared to share what happened after the man threatened to harm their family, but the child told a therapist what happened after the investigation into the niece began, authorities said.

The man faces up to 32 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 30 and will be required to register as a sex offender.