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The 42-year-old Amityville man, who prosecutors are not naming to protect the victim’s identity, was found guilty on child sex crime charges in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, July 20.
According to the DA’s Office, the defendant repeatedly touched the girl’s breasts and vagina during family visits between 2013 and 2016, beginning when the girl was 9 years old. On some occasions, he also made the girl touch his penis.
He repeatedly told the child not to tell anyone because it would “ruin the family,” prosecutors said.
The girl reported the abuse when she was 16 and her mother contacted police.
Investigators arrested the defendant in January 2021.
In court Thursday, he was found guilty of “course of sexual conduct against a child,” a felony.
“For years, this defendant used his familial connection to gain access to the victim, his niece, in order to satisfy his own sexual desires,” Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney said.
“My Office will continue to prosecute sexual predators such as this defendant, and seek justice for victims of abuse, especially children.”
The man is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 14, and faces up to seven years in prison.
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