Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz today announced that Ramon Rodriguez, 77, of South Ozone Park has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for sexually abusing two girls at his daughter’s daycare center. One of the victims was 7 years old when the abuse began in 2010. The second victim was a 5-year-old who was abused in June of 2019.

District Attorney Katz said, “In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted to violating these two young girls. Sadly, this defendant took advantage of his access to his daughter’s childcare business and befriended these vulnerable youngsters for his own depraved desires. Parents must always be vigilant when choosing day care centers – ask questions and insist on knowing exactly who will have contact with your child.”

In January 2020, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the first degree and course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree. Queens Supreme Court Justice Karen Gopee today sentenced the defendant to 2 concurrent terms of 2 years in prison, to be followed by 3 years’ post release supervision. The defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender.

When she was an Assemblywoman, DA Katz authored the course of sexual conduct against a child law to ensure predators are held accountable for violating children.

According to the charges, between 2010 and 2015, the defendant sexually abused the first victim on numerous occasions when she was between the ages of 7 and 12. The defendant touched the girl through her clothing and under her clothes as well. He exposed himself to her and forced her to touch him and watch as he touched himself.

Furthermore, according to the charges, the defendant told the victim that he was sorry and stated in sum and substance “I know you hate me for what I have done to you.”

Continuing, according to court records, between June and July of 2019, on at least one occasion, the defendant touched the genitals of a 5 year old girl under her clothing.

Assistant District Attorney Tara Vogel, of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau, prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Eric C. Rosenbaum, Bureau Chief, Debra Lynn Pomodore, Deputy Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel A. Saunders.