Nassau Pizzeria Owner Sexually Abused Female Employee, 15: Police

OCEANSIDE, NY — An East Rockaway man was arrested after allegedly sexually abusing a child in Oceanside, police said.

Joseph Piccolo, 61, owner of Pizzaiola Oceanside on Long Beach Road, invited a 15-year-old female employee into his private office on the afternoon of Aug. 10, police said.

Piccolo told her to come back to the restaurant after work, when nobody else would be present, so he could give her extra money without the other employees noticing, police said.

Once entering the restaurant's office, the victim was handed $200 and Piccolo began touching her, police said.

The victim, in fear of further abuse, left the restaurant and informed her father what had occurred. They reported the incident to police, authorities said.

Piccolo was placed under arrest on August 15 without incident.

Piccolo is charged with forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree sexual abuse, police said. He was arraigned on August 16 at First District Court in Hempstead.

Anyone who feels they may have been a victim of Piccolo should call the Nassau County Police Department's Fourth Squad at 516-573-6453.