Onondaga County law enforcement agencies are investigating whether a man recently arrested for sexually assaulting a child might be responsible for similar crimes. Sheriff’s deputies arrested 33-year-old Ryan Pontello of Clay Sunday after he allegedly used candy to lure a five-year-old from a playground to a wooded area. District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick said Pontello is connected to an incident involving a three-year-old earlier this year.
“Based on this individual's history, the conduct that he's being charged with and our fear that that there may be other victims out there, we're asking the public's help In identifying him and connecting him to any other unsolved crimes,” Fitzpatrick said at a press conference.
Pontello has been a registered sex offender in Oswego County since 2011. Fitzpatrick says it isn’t clear why that case was closed two years later. But he said sexual predators typically follow a pattern of behavior.
“The likelihood of someone with those proclivities remaining dormant for a decade is extremely unlikely, so we're going to be doing a deep dive into his background, his location, see what evidence we get from his social media, from his phone, find out where he's been.”
Fitzpatrick said it’s a reminder for parents to educate their children about suspicious behavior, and that strangers often use props like candy or a lost pet to lure kids to a car or secluded area. Anyone with information about Pontello or other victims can call the sheriff’s office at 435-3081.
Charges Filed Against Ryan Pontello:
• PL 130.35(3A) – Rape in the First Degree (Forcible Compulsion)
Class B Felony
• PL 120.70(1) – Luring a child to commit a felony
Class E Felony
• PL 130.65(3) – Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (Forcible Compulsion)
Class D Felony
• PL 260.10(1) – Acting in a Manner Injurious to a Child Under 17
Class A Misdemeanor
* Additional charges are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
