Patchogue Man Indicted For Sexually Abusing Six Children: DA

PATCHOGUE, NY — In a scenario law enforcement officials are calling a parent’s worse nightmare, a Patchogue man now faces upgraded charges unveiled on Wednesday in a 15-count indictment, alleging he sexually abused six children in the care of his wife who ran a daycare facility from their house.

Angel Tacuri, 52, has been charged with three counts of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, first-degree criminal sexual act, and first-degree sexual abuse, all felonies. He was additionally charged with six counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

If convicted on the top counts, Tacuri faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.

Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini called it “a parent’s worst nightmare” to entrust their child to the care of another adult and have that child sexually abused.

“As a father, my heart goes out to these victims,” Sini said. “The defendant took advantage of the position he was placed into by the victims’ parents and took advantage of his position as a caretaker to these children. These were heinous acts, and my office will hold this defendant accountable.”

Suffolk County police Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron said Tacuri “preyed on” the children, who were in his wife’s care, “taking advantage of his access, and created every parent’s worst nightmare.”

“I commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward and we will continue to investigate with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to determine if there are additional victims,” he said.

Tacuri was arrested Jan. 14 for allegedly sexually abusing a female victim beginning in 2010 when she was just seven years old, and following that arrest, three additional victims came forward in May to report alleged sexual abuse by Tacuri, prosecutors said.

Further investigation by the DA’s office and Suffolk police’s Special Victims Section, resulted in the identification of two additional victims, according to prosecutors.

Tacuri allegedly abused the six victims between 2010 and 2014 when the children were between the ages of three to nine years old, and several of them had been in the care of his wife at a daycare she ran out of their home in Patchogue.

Sini is urging any additional victims to contact his office at 631-853-4161, or the police’s Special Victims Section at 631-852-6531.

Tacuri was remanded to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead without bail.

His attorney, Gerard Donnelly of Hauppauge, was not immediately available for comment. He is due back in court on July 21.