Based in Clay, Ryan J. Pontello, a 33-year-old Level 1 sex offender, had a history of sexual offences dating back to 2013 as disclosed in court records. The 2013 charge was related to sexual misconduct against a minor aged five from Oswego County. On June 10, the law enforcement authorities from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Office reported another instance of alleged rape against a five-year-old girl.
The alleged criminal act with this victim occurred on June 8. According to the charges, Pontello managed to coax the child away from a playground near the Windsor Place Apartment complex on Bear Road, North Syracuse. Using candy as a bait, he led her into a sequestered area in the nearby woods.
In the same arrest report, officials noted that Pontello is being suspected of other sex offences, this time involving a three-year-old victim. His first recorded conviction was in 2013 for an incident that reportedly happened in 2011.
Court documents shed light on the stomach-churning confessions Pontello made following his 2013 arrest. Initially providing incorrect information to the officials, he eventually confessed the appalling details. His victim was a child Pontello was babysitting and the crime took place in the unspeakable privacy of her own bedroom.
The child had been taking a nap when Pontello seized the opportunity for misconduct. He described to the police his act of touching her, including her legs, chest, and stomach. The ordeal further escalated when Pontello advanced his touch under the girl’s nightgown.
He reportedly ceased his actions when the child started to wake. The fear of her reporting the incident to her parents made him retreat. His detailed statement was recorded by the State Police on March 5, 2013, at 2:35 p.m.
On analysis, it was noted that in the beginning, Pontello had denied any wrongdoing. In his preliminary statement, given at 1:20 p.m. on the same day, he insisted he had never behaved inappropriately with the victim. Advancing a semblance of innocence, Pontello referred to playing child games such as Twister, Headband, and a few board games.
After his conviction in 2013, the court applied the Sex Offender Registration Act Risk Assessment Instrument to evaluate Pontello’s risk level. The process resulted in him being classified as a Level 1 sex offender, scoring a total of 65.
On breakdown of his score, 30 points were attributed to the victim’s age, 10 to this being his first recorded sex crime, and another five were given due to the nature and number of his previous crimes. His substance abuse history concluded the scoring with an additional 15 points.
Despite this collection of offenses, the court records did not label Pontello as a sexual predator. As a Level 1 sex offender, most of his personal details, including his name, address, and the specifics of his criminal history, are not easily retrievable by the general public.
This contrasts with the Level 2 and 3 sex offenders, whose personal data including name and residence can be easily found on the New York State Sex Offender Registry website. This distinction is an established part of the sex offender laws.
The New York State Lawmakers are now considering revisions to the existing state’s sex offender laws which have remained unaltered for many years. The landscape of such offences and the necessity to protect the public, especially vulnerable populations, drive the need for these changes.
The post Level 1 Sex Offender in Clay Caught in New Charges appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
