Man Indicted After Sexually Abusing Disabled Shelter Resident: DA

DEER PARK, NY — A Deer Park man was indicted on Thursday after impersonating a Department of Social Services employee and sexually abusing a disabled homeless shelter resident in East Farmingdale in early September, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced.

Alfred Balcerak III, 65, was indicted for first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, forcible touching, and other related charges, the DA said.

According to the investigation, on September 6, around 3:30 p.m., Balcerak allegedly told security at a homeless shelter in East Farmingdale that he was from the Department of Social Services and was there to provide information on potential housing services to residents of the shelter, the DA said.

Balcerak provided an expired New York State driver’s license and his insurance card as identification and allegedly signed his name onto a visitor sheet listing himself as an employee from the Department of Social Services, the DA said.

Once insider, Balcerak asked security if there were any males between the ages of 18 to 22 years old who needed housing assistance, the DA said.

Balcerak then introduced to the disabled victim as a home health aide, cleaned his room and offered to assist the disabled victim with showering, the DA said.

While showering him, Balcerak touched the victim while making sexually explicit comments as disabled victim told Balcerak to stop, the DA said. When Balcerak left the shelter, he took the disabled victim’s cell phone with him, the DA said.

On September 13, Balcerak was arrested by Suffolk County police at his home in Deer Park, the DA said.

“The allegations against the defendant are extremely troubling,” said Tierney. “Crimes that target the homeless and mentally disabled are particularly heinous, as these victims are often isolated and lack the resources to defend themselves.”

On October 3, Balcerak was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis and charge with first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, a Class E felony; forcible touching, a Class A misdemeanor; petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor; second-degree criminal impersonation, a Class A misdemeanor; and third-degree sexual Abuse, a Class B misdemeanor, the DA said.

Wilutis ordered Balcerak held on $150,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $1,000,000 partially secured bond, the DA said. He is due back in court on October 24.

Balcerak is being represented by Matthew Tuohy who was not immediately available for comment.