Child Molestation Attorney in Westchester County

Former Westchester County Prosecutors and Investigators, Ready for Trial

A child molestation accusation sets off consequences before any verdict is reached: arrest, felony charges, potential sex offender registration under SORA, and damage to your career and family that begins the moment the accusation becomes public. At Portale Randazzo LLP, our child molestation attorneys in Westchester County prepare every case for trial from day one because that readiness is what gives a defense its teeth.

Our team brings over 150 years of combined litigation experience. James Randazzo tried more than 30 cases to verdict as an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County. Richard Portale built his prosecutorial record in the Narcotics and Gangs Bureaus of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. We know how these cases are built from the inside, and we use that knowledge to defend them.

Why Portale Randazzo LLP Is the Right Defense Team for This Case

Knowing how the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office evaluates evidence, decides to charge, and presents to a jury is a concrete advantage in building a defense. Michael Duffy, a member of our team, served as Chief Investigator at the Westchester County DA’s Office, where he headed a squad of 38 investigators and was specifically responsible for internet sex crime investigations. That firsthand knowledge of investigative procedure at the same office that may be prosecuting your case isn’t something most criminal defense firms can offer.

Credentials and  Recognition

Richard Portale has been selected to Super Lawyers every year from 2018 through 2026 and received the American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year award in Criminal Law in 2019. Parker Bagley was named a Super Lawyer for over 10 consecutive years. These aren’t credentials assembled to fill a page. They reflect a consistent record of high-stakes litigation.

Prior Sex Crime Matters in Westchester County

Our prior matters in Westchester County include a client accused of rape who was cleared of all charges, a White Plains rape case where our client was released and didn’t spend another day in jail after we took over, and three internet sex crime cases under NY Penal Law § 235 that resolved with no felony, no jail, no probation, and no sex offender registration. Each case is its own matter, and past results don’t predict future outcomes.

How New York Law Defines Child Molestation Charges

“Child molestation” is not a standalone crime under New York Penal Law. It is a colloquial term covering a range of sex offenses under Article 130 in which the alleged victim is a child. When charges are filed in Westchester County, they will name one or more specific statutes, each carrying its own elements, penalties, and registration consequences.

New York defines a child as a person under the age of 17. Children under that age lack legal capacity to consent to sex acts under NY Penal Law § 130.05(3). The alleged victim’s age is the single most significant factor in determining which charges apply and how severe they are, with penalties escalating when the child is under 13 or under 11.

The offenses most commonly grouped under this term include: forcible touching (§ 130.52), sexual abuse in the third, second, and first degree (§§ 130.55, 130.60, 130.65), aggravated sexual abuse (§§ 130.65-a through 130.70), course of sexual conduct against a child in the first and second degree (§§ 130.75, 130.80), and predatory sexual assault against a child (§ 130.96).

The New York Child Victims Act extended the criminal prosecution window significantly. For felony charges, a district attorney may prosecute until the alleged victim reaches age 28; for misdemeanor charges, until age 25. This means accusations can arise years or even decades after the alleged conduct, making preservation of alibi evidence, communications, and witness recollections considerably more difficult.

How We Defend Child Molestation Cases

Prosecution cases in these matters typically depend on the alleged victim’s testimony, witness accounts, and forensic evidence. Every one of those elements is subject to challenge. We begin reviewing the evidence, identifying inconsistencies, and mapping a defense strategy immediately upon retention.

Defense strategies we examine in each case:

• False accusations: Allegations motivated by a custody dispute, anger, or personal conflict do arise, and establishing that motive is part of building the defense narrative.
• Insufficient or inconsistent evidence: When testimony shifts across interviews or forensic findings don’t support the account, those contradictions can become part of the basis for reasonable doubt.
• Suggestive interview techniques: Records from school staff, counselors, or child protective services workers may show leading or suggestive questioning that affected what the child reported. Those records are subject to motions and cross-examination.
• Digital evidence review: Phone records, messages, and social media can confirm or undermine the prosecution’s timeline. Preserving that evidence early is critical.
• Constitutional violations: An unlawful search, an improper identification procedure, or a statement taken without proper advisement of rights may support a suppression argument before the case reaches trial.

We answer every question and address every concern throughout the process. You maintain full control over your legal situation, including how you want to proceed.

Speak With a Child Molestation Lawyer in Westchester County Today

The earlier you retain counsel, the more options your defense has. If an investigation has already begun, we can intervene before charges are filed. We’re available 24/7 and offer consultations in English and Spanish.