Bay Shore Man Arrested For Child Porn, Released Without Bail: DA

BAY SHORE, NY — A Bay Shore man was indicted on Thursday for possessing thousands of images and videos of infants and children being sexually abused, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.

Richard L. Wolffe, Jr., 39, of Bay Shore, was charged with 20 counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child, for allegedly uploading and possessing images and videos of children being sexually abused, the DA said.

According to the investigation, in August 2022, the Suffolk County Police Department received a tip alleging that Wolffe uploaded child sexual abuse material to cloud storage, the DA said. On July 27, 2023, a search warrant at his residence uncovered multiple electronic devices, including an external hard drive from a desk in Wolffe’s bedroom, the DA said.

Digital forensic analysis revealed over 5,000 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material involving children under the age of 10 years, the DA said. Wolffe was arrested on Aug. 23, 2023.

"The fact that prosecutors cannot even ask for bail for consumers of child sexual abuse images and videos is wrong and our lawmakers need to wake up," Tierney said. "Each image in cases like these represents a crime scene and a child whose innocence was violently stolen. Our office will vigorously prosecute anyone who not only exploits our most vulnerable but those who fuel and feed off of such heinous acts."

On Nov. 14, Wolffe was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis, for 20 counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child, Class E felonies, the DA said.

Wilutis ordered that Wolffe be placed on supervised release, the DA said. He was released from jail without bail because the charges of possession of a sexual performance by a child are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail, the DA said.

Wolffe is due back in court on Dec. 20, and faces up to 1.3 to four years in prison if convicted on the top count, the DA said. He is being represented by Peter Brill who was not immediately available for comment.