LI pervert released due to bail reform had thousands of sexual images and videos of babies and children: DA

A Long Island patient who allegedly downloaded thousands of disturbing images and videos of sexually abused babies and children is now back on the streets, thanks to New York’s lax bail reform laws.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, 39-year-old Richard L. Wolffe Jr. was arrested after officers with the Suffolk County Police Department received a tip that the accused guy was uploading sexually explicit images of children to cloud storage.

While executing the search warrant, officers seized numerous electronic devices, including an external hard drive from Wolffe’s bedroom that contained more than 5,000 images and videos of children under the age of 10 engaging in sexual acts.

Prosecutors slapped the alleged pervert with a 20-count indictment for sexual performance by a child; Those charges, which make him ineligible for bail under state law, mean he cannot be kept behind bars unless convicted.

“The fact that prosecutors cannot even seek bail for consumers of child sexual abuse images and videos is wrong, and our lawmakers need to wake up,” said District Attorney Raymond Tierney.

“Each image in cases like this represents a crime scene and a child whose innocence has been brutally stolen. “Our office will vigorously prosecute not only those who exploit our most vulnerable, but also those who incite and fuel such heinous acts.”

Prosecutors said police began the investigation in August 2022 after receiving a tip and executed a search warrant at his home on July 27, 2023.

Wolffe was arrested on Aug. 23, 2023, after members of the department’s digital forensics unit found his sickening digital stockpile.

He was arraigned Thursday on the sickening charges and placed on supervised release, prosecutors said.

If convicted, Wolffe faces up to four years in prison.

He will appear in court again on December 20.