West Babylon Man Gets 25 Years For Sexually Abusing Child: DA

WEST BABYLON, NY — A West Babylon man was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing a child over several years, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

The 29-year-old man, whose name is being withheld by prosecutors to protect the identity of the child victim, was convicted by a jury in May of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the DA’s office.

Prosecutors said the abuse began after the man started conducting Zoom calls with the girl during the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, when she was 9 years old.

The man was considered a close family friend and was viewed by the child as an “uncle” figure, prosecutors said.

The calls initially involved games, superheroes and television, but prosecutors said the man later began sharing pornographic images and videos on his screen while inappropriately touching himself.

Beginning in March 2022, the girl’s mother regularly brought her to the man’s home so he could babysit while she worked, according to prosecutors.

The man sexually abused the child during those visits, prosecutors said.

In April 2023, when the girl was 12, she learned through school presentations and information online that the man’s conduct was wrong, prosecutors said. She confronted him, and the abuse stopped.

The girl began experiencing anxiety and panic attacks in February 2024 and disclosed the abuse to her mother, leading to an investigation and the man’s arrest, prosecutors said.

A jury convicted him May 22 of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a Class B violent felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, following a trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei.

On Sept. 9, Mazzei sentenced him to 25 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. He will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release, prosecutors said.

Tierney also commended the victim for helping bring the case to prosecution.

The defendant was represented by attorney Christopher Gioe, who was not immediately available to comment.

“Protecting children from sexual predators is one of the most important responsibilities of this office,” Tierney said. “This sentence reflects the severity of these crimes and should serve as a warning to anyone who would exploit a child’s trust.”