KINGSTON, NY — Police have arrested a Poughkeepsie man on charges of second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.
Ericq L. Pesante, 31, of Poughkeepsie, was taken into custody Oct. 22 following an investigation that began in late September.
The Kingston Police Department received a report Sept. 28 involving a juvenile female victim who had engaged in a sexual relationship with an adult male.
The case was assigned to the Detective Division, which identified Pesante as a suspect.
During the early morning hours of Oct. 22, Pesante returned to Kingston and met again with the juvenile victim, according to police.
Officers located both individuals together shortly thereafter.
Pesante was interviewed and admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with the juvenile, police said.
He was charged with rape in the second degree, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Pesante was arraigned in Kingston City Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail on bail.
He has since posted bail and is scheduled to reappear in Kingston City Court at a later date.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Anyone with additional information, or who believes they may have been a victim of the defendant, is urged to contact the Kingston Police Department at (845) 331-8404 or Detective Michael DeFrance at [email protected].
