Indecent Exposure

A man described by police as a “prominent member of the community involved in area youth groups and sports organizations” is facing felony charges for allegedly having sexually explicit on-line conversations with a 14-year-old Carmel girl.

Police arrested Thomas Montesi, 46, of Lake Carmel, late Tuesday afternoon following a three-week long investigation.

Carmel Police Chief Michael Johnson alleged that Montesti engaged in “explicit emails with photographs of himself to a female known from prior interactions.” Johnson said police were contacted when the girl’s parents became aware of the internet correspondence.

Last Wednesday investigators from the Westchester County District Attorney’s office took over the identity of the teenager and according to the chief “during this time, Montesi continued engaging in sexually explicit conversations with the investigator.”

Johnson told the Courier that Montesti agreed to meet the “alleged 14-year-old” at Ryan’s Field in Lake Carmel on Tuesday and a “rendezvous was planned. When he arrived and was confronted by police he agreed to come to police headquarters in Mahopac for additional questioning.”

Detectives charged Montesi with endangering the welfare of a minor, the disseminating of indecent materials to a minor, and the attempted disseminating indecent materials to a minor. He was arraigned by Carmel Justice Thomas Jacobellis and was remanded to the Putnam Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail pending a court hearing September 1 in Carmel Town Court.

District Attorney Adam Levy said the most serious charge of disseminating indecent materials to a minor was a Class D felony carrying a potential seven-year state prison term upon conviction.

The chief has asked anyone with further information about Montesi or who may have had similar contact with the man to contact police headquarters at 628-1300.