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Charges against a Poughkeepsie man accused of raping a girl under 15 were dismissed and sealed by the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office earlier this month in Kingston. The case involved Ericq Pesante, who had been arrested by Kingston police on Murray Street in October of last year after officers said he admitted to "engaging in a sexual relationship" with the minor. According to a report from the Daily Freeman, Kingston police said they were prepared to prosecute, but the District Attorney’s Office, led by Emmanuel Nneji, dismissed and immediately sealed the charges on March 9.
At the time of the arrest, police reported receiving a complaint about a juvenile female victim and identified Pesante as a suspect. He was interviewed and allegedly admitted to engaging in the relationship. After his arraignment in Kingston City Court, Pesante posted a $25,000 bond and was released.
Kingston Police Lieutenant Patrick Buono confirmed in an email that the investigation "is closed and no longer active," and stated, "Because the matter has been sealed by the court we cannot comment on the specifics of the case." The exact reasons for the dismissal were not disclosed, as District Attorney Nneji did not respond to requests for further comment, and Pesante also declined to comment when reached online. His attorney could not immediately be reached.
The felony charge—rape of a victim under 15 by someone 18 or older—and a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child were both dismissed and sealed by the court. The certificate of disposition confirming this was shared by Pesante on social media.
The dismissal comes amid heightened attention on how sex crime allegations are handled by local authorities. District Attorney Nneji has previously addressed concerns about transparency and accountability in other high-profile abuse cases in the region, emphasizing the importance of immediate reporting and strict adherence to mandated protocols, as reported by both Hudson Valley One and The Overlook News.
With the case now closed and records sealed, no further legal action is expected unless new evidence emerges.