Amityville Man Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing 2 Children: DA

Lindenhurst NY

16 May, 2022

7:24 PM

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AMITYVILLE, NY — An Amityville man has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two children, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Monday. Ascencion Cruzsantamaria, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal sexual act, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child before Suffolk County Court Judge Karen Wilutis, Tierney said. He will be sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by 15 years of post-release supervision on June 16, officials said. Cruzsantamaria admitted that in August 2019, he knocked on the door of a seven-year-oldvictim and told the child that his mother requested he babysit him, Tierney said. Once inside, Cruzsantamaria sexually abused the boy, who immediately told his mother what happened when she returned home, officials said. He was arrested, indicted and, following an appeal during which his bail was lowered, he posted bail and was released, Tierney said. After posting bail on the original indictment, Cruzsantamaria returned to the same multi-family home in Amityville where he previously abused the first child, officials said. In his guilty plea, Cruzsantamaria admitted that in December 2021, while on bail for the first indictment, he sexually abused a 10-year-old girl at this same home, officials said. The two children were not related to him or to each other, Tierney said. "This defendant manipulated his way into the rooms of these children and proceeded to takeadvantage of the fact that their parents were at work to sexually abuse them," said Tierney."Today's plea holds this dangerous predator to account while, thankfully, sparing these youngchildren from having to testify in court."