EAST NORTHPORT RESIDENT CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ABUSING A TODDLER AND CREATING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Dakota Rose, 25, of East Northport, pleaded guilty to Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, for sexually abusing a three-year-old child while videotaping the abuse and further disseminating the video.

“This defendant sexually exploited a young child and thought he could get away with it,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Thanks to the tipster who reported this vile criminal activity to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), this defendant will be held responsible for his crimes and a young victim will be spared from having to testify at trial.”

According to court documents and Rose’s admissions during the guilty plea allocution, on February 17, 2024, the Suffolk County Police Department Digital Forensics Unit received a tip from the NCMEC that alleged that child sexual abuse material was disseminated via social media from a residential location in East Northport. Further investigation led law enforcement to Rose’s home.

On March 12, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Rose’s home, leading to the seizure of numerous electronic devices. Investigators were able to identify both Rose and the toddler from the disseminated video on one of the seized electronic devices.

The investigation further resulted in the discovery of two additional videos of child pornography on Rose’s phone and it was determined that Rose exchanged all three videos with other individuals through both social media and text messages, including on at least one occasion in exchange for money.

On September 30, 2024, Rose pleaded guilty to Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, a Class C felony, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D Violent felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis.

Rose is due back in court on November 14, 2024, and is being represented by Scott Zerner, Esq. Rose is expected to receive a sentence of 7 to 15 years in prison with 10 years of post-release supervision.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tara Laterza of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Gregory Pranzo of the Suffolk County Police Department Digital Forensics Unit.

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