Brewster man jailed for committing sex crime

A 24-year-old Brewster man who authorities say is an illegal alien in the U.S. is facing charges of first degree sexual abuse that could result in a 15- year state prison term upon conviction.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest Monday of Nelson Mendez-Depaz, 24, of Brewster, after a local physician notified the Sheriff’s Department that a young patient had reported being sexually abused. Sheriff Donald Smith said an investigation was conducted by both members of the countywide Advocacy Multi-Disciplinary Team and the Sheriff’s BCI: “An eight-year-old boy told investigators that he was sexually abused. A search warrant was executed at the residence where the crime allegedly took place and evidence was collected. As a result of that investigation, Mendez-Depaz was taken into custody.

The suspect was arraigned before Brewster Village Justice Richard O’Rourke and was remanded to the Putnam Correctional Facility without bail. The sheriff noted because the defendant is alleged to be an illegal immigrant, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer against him.

Sheriff Smith thanked Investigator Armando Barquin of the Brewster State Police for his assistance in the case.

—Eric Gross