LIVINGSTON, NY — The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation announced the arrest of a group home employee following an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving a 14-year-old female resident.
Andres Lima, 39, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was arrested April 12 and charged with multiple felonies.
Lima was an employee of the Kinderhof Group Home in Columbia County.
The investigation began in March and determined the abuse occurred over a five-month period.
Lima was charged with 20 counts of rape in the second degree (actor 18 years old or more – vaginal sexual contact with a person under 15), class D felonies.
He was also charged with 15 counts of rape in the second degree (actor 18 years old or more – oral sexual contact with a person under 15), class D felonies.
Additional charges include disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree, a class D felony; criminal possession of a sexual performance by a child, a class E felony; four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, class A misdemeanors; and harassment in the second degree, a violation.
Lima was arraigned April 13 in Columbia County Court and remanded to the Columbia County Jail on $35,000 cash, $70,000 bond, or $85,000 partially secured bond.
State police thanked the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, members of the Troop C Child Advocacy Center, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pittsfield Police Department for their assistance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police at Troop K Headquarters at (845) 677-7300 and reference case #NY2600354009.
