LI Man Convicted Of Sexually Abused Stepdaughter, 9, When Mom Was At Work

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Shirley man was convicted Friday of sexually his abusing stepdaughter, starting when she was nine years old, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said Friday.

The name of the man, who is 43, was not disclosed to protect the child's identity. He was found guilty of rape, course of sexual conduct against a child, and other related offenses, according to prosecutors.

In July 2016, he married the mother of the then nine-year-old girl, and that same month, he brought her into his bedroom while her mother was at work and sexually abused her, then threatened her to keep her from telling anyone what he had done, prosecutors said.

The abuse continued for nearly a year until May 2017, when the relationship between the man and the child's mother ended, and he no longer had access to her, according to prosecutors.

Two years later, in June 2019, the child told her mother, who then immediately brought her to the hospital, and the police were contacted, prosecutors said, adding that after an investigation, law enforcement went to the man's job and took him into custody.

Tierney said the man "took advantage of the trust that his family placed in him when he began sexually abusing his stepdaughter."

“Thanks to the bravery of this victim in coming forward to testify, this defendant will go to state prison, a place where he can no longer harm children," he said.

He is due back in court for sentencing on Dec. 19, and he faces up to 25 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

His attorney, Peter Mayer of Hauppauge, could not be immediately reached for comment.