Former Church Group Leader Convicted in Sex Abuse of 4-Year-Old

By William Demarest
The Patch
June 14, 2012

http://nyack.patch.com/articles/former-church-group-leader-convicted-in-sex-abuse-of-4-year-old


A former Rockland County church group leader from South Nyack has been convicted of sexually abusing a 4-year-old child he was babysitting in 2009.

A Rockland County jury convicted Todd Retallack, 49, of 32 Terrace Drive, South Nyack, of first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

"This defendant was convicted of having betrayed the trust of a young child and her family," said Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe. "No child should be put in that position. The jury in this case heard the evidence in the case, which rested largely on the testimony of the now‐7‐year‐old victim. Children should be able to remain children."

The incident took place in fall 2009 and Retallack was arrested in May 2011. Zugibe said Retallack, who was a friend of the victim's family, was babysitting the girl in his home.

The trial began on May 14. Jurors deciding the case before Westchester County Court Judge Barry Warhit returned a verdict of guilty today after eight hours of deliberation.

"This case calls for a prison sentence to both punish the defendant and to serve as a warning to those offenders who prey on children," Zugibe said.

Retallack faces a minimum of two to a maximum of seven years in state prison when sentenced on Sept. 11.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda Doty and Assistant District Attorney Jason Rosenwasser of the Special Victims Unit, under the supervision of Senior Assistant District Attorney Patricia Gunning.