Sept. 1, 2010: Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that a 16-year-old youth has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing two younger boys.
Mr. Ryan Reel, of Pleasant Road in Lake Peekskill, was arrested on August 29th for allegedly abusing the boys, aged 12 and 13, in the Lake Peekskill section of Putnam Valley. The specific location of the alleged offenses is being withheld to protect the victims’ identities. Investigators report that the defendant and the victims were known to each other.
On Aug. 29, a mother of one of the victims notified the Sheriff’s Office of the suspected abuse. After an initial investigation the case was referred to Sheriff’s Investigators Steven Kanuk and James Bambino. Investigator Kanuk, along with members of the Putnam County Child Advocacy Center, interviewed the victims while Investigator Bambino gathered forensic evidence. The victims were transported to the Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel, where they were evaluated and later released.
Mr. Reel has been charged as an adult with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (class B felonies), two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (class D felonies) and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (class A misdemeanors). If convicted of the most serious offense, the defendant could face up to 15 years in prison.
Mr. Reel was arraigned before Philipstown Town Justice Alan Steiner, who remanded him to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000 cash bail or $200,000 secured bond. Justice Steiner also issued an Order of Protection on behalf of the victims prohibiting Mr. Reel from having any further contact with them. The defendant was scheduled to appear in Putnam Valley Justice Court on Sept. 2 at 9:30 A.M. to answer the charges.
