Accused LI perv – cut loose because of bail reform – had thousands of sexual images and videos of infants, kids: DA
· New York PostA Long Island sicko who allegedly downloaded thousands of disturbing images and videos of infants and kids being sexually abused is now back on the streets thanks to New York’s lax bail reform laws.
Richard L. Wolffe, Jr. 39, was busted after officers from the Suffolk County Police Department received a tip that the accused creep had uploaded sexually explicit images of children to his cloud storage, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
While executing a search warrant, officers seized multiple electronic devices, including an external hard drive from Wolffe’s bedroom, containing more than 5,000 images and videos of children under the age of 10 performing sex acts.
Prosecutors slapped the alleged perv with a 20-count indictment for possession of a sexual performance by a child – charges that are non-bail eligible under state law, meaning he can’t be held behind bars, unless convicted.
“The fact that prosecutors cannot even ask for bail for consumers of child sexual abuse images and videos is wrong and our lawmakers need to wake up,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney fumed.
“Each image in cases like these represents a crime scene and a child whose innocence was violently stolen. Our office will vigorously prosecute anyone who not only exploits our most vulnerable, but those who fuel and feed off of such heinous acts.”
Police launched their investigation in August 2022, following the tip, and executed the search warrant on his home on July 27, 2023, prosecutors said.
Wolffe was arrested on Aug. 23, 2023, after members of the department’s digital forensic unit found his nauseating digital stockpile.
He was arraigned on Thursday on the sickening charges and placed on supervised release, prosecutors said.
If convicted, Wolffe faces up to four years in prison.
He is due back in court on Dec. 20.