$1 Million Bail For Sex Abuse Suspect

Arrested two weeks ago, a Dix Hills man potentially faces in excess of 100 years in jail for sexually abusing his daughter. The identity of the 35-year-old suspect is being withheld to protect the victim.

By Robert Leuner
Originally published in Suffolk Life, October 17, 2001

Last week Suffolk County District Attorney James Catterson, Jr. announced the suspect was indicted on 51 counts stemming from the abuse of his four-year-old daughter. Catterson alleges the abuse began when the child was three months old. Following his arraignment, bail of $1,000,000 was set by Judge Louis Ohlig.

Charges against the defendant include: one count of First Degree Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child, six counts of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, one count of First Degree Sexual Abuse, 41 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child and 2 Counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Among the acts attributed to the suspect between July 1997 and September 2001 is having at least one act of sexual intercourse with the victim and deviate sexual intercourse or aggravated sexual conduct with the victim. Additionally, the defendant allegedly offered to swap his daughter with another person from a "baby sex" chat room who, unbeknownst to the suspect, was an undercover police officer. Pornography, including video clips of children engaged in sexual activity and of the victim, were also recovered in the course of the investigation.