Long Island Man Gets 23 Years In Stepdaughter's Rape

RIVERSIDE, NY — A 43-year-old Shirley man was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of his stepdaughter over a year, starting when she was nine years old, District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday.

In July 2016, he married the mother of the child, who was nine years old at the time, and that same month, he brought her into his bedroom while her mother was at work, and subjected her to sexual abuse, and threatened her to keep her from telling anyone what he had done, prosecutors said.

He is not being identified to protect the identity of the victim.

The sexual abuse continued until May 2017, when the relationship between him and the girl's mother ended, and he no longer had access to her, according to prosecutors.

The girl did not disclose the abuse to her mother until 2019, but when she did, she immediately brought her to the hospital, and the man was arrested, prosecutors said.

“Children should feel loved and protected in the company of an adult, and not have their innocence taken advantage of, especially in the way that this defendant took advantage of his own stepdaughter,” Tierney said. “Let this lengthy prison sentence serve as a deterrent and warning to anyone who is even thinking of harming children in Suffolk County, that my office will do everything in our power to hold you accountable.”

He was found guilty of first-degree rape, sexual abuse, and course of sexual conduct against a child last month.

After his release from prison, he will be subject to 20 years of post-release supervision and required to register as a sex offender.

Defense attorney, Peter Mayer of Central Islip, told Patch his client has "maintained his innocence since Day 1."

"We plan on appealing these charges that we are very disappointed with the results with," he added.