Former Horse Trainer Sexually Abused Children For Decades: Feds

A former horse trainer who worked at Belmont Park and was an assistant trainer for Triple Crown winner Secretariat was arraigned Friday on an indictment charging him with sexual exploitation of a child, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity and possession of child pornography.

Daniel Mullan, 80, was extradited to the United States from Ireland on Thursday. Mullan hold dual citizenship in both countries.

According to court filings, in the summer of 2017, the FBI executed search warrants at Mullan’s residence in Elmont and his rental storage unit in Melville, and seized hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, prosecutors said.

Several videos depicted Mullan engaged in sexual acts with teenage boys dating back to the early 1980s, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Numerous victims were then identified, including a male juvenile with whom Mullan traveled in the United States and abroad between 1999 and 2006 for the purpose of engaging in sex and recording it for himself and to sell to others, prosecutors said. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.

“As alleged, Daniel Mullan victimized children here and abroad for decades by sexually abusing them and recording these acts,” United States Attorney Richard Donoghue said. “The protection of children is a priority of this Office and the Department of Justice. Those who exploit and victimize children will be identified and brought to justice.”