LI Man Sexually Abused Stepdaughter For 7 Years: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Long Island man has been found guilty of sexually abusing his stepdaughter for seven years, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.

On Wednesday, Tierney announced that the 49-year-old Central Islip man, who is not being named to protect the identity of the child, was found guilty after trial of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, for repeatedly sexually abusing his stepdaughter while she was between the ages of eight and 15 years old.

"Anyone who comes forward to report sexual abuse is extremely brave, especially a child," Tierney said. "The defendant's responsibility was to keep this child safe, but instead he brought years of suffering. We will be asking that the defendant be sentenced to the maximum period of incarceration at sentence."

According to evidence at trial, the victim was 8 years old in 2017 when she moved in with her mother, her siblings and the defendant, the victim’s stepfather. Shortly after, the victim moved into the large room that they all shared and her stepfather began sexually abusing the victim several times a week, whenever they were alone, the DA said.

The abuse continued for seven years, until the victim was 15 years old, the DA said.

On Jan. 11, 2024, the defendant again sexually abused the victim and was interrupted when he heard the victim’s sibling approach, the DA said. The victim went into the bathroom, cried and texted her friend and her mother asking for help, the DA said. Her mother contacted the police, and the defendant was arrested following an investigation, the DA said.

On April 1, during a jury trial before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Wilutis, the defendant was charged with second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a Class D violent felony; endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor; and third-degree sexual abuse, a Class B misdemeanor, the DA said.

The defendant is due back in court for sentencing on June 2 and faces up to seven years in prison, the DA said. He is being represented by Luigi Belcastro, who was not immediately available for comment.