A Williamsbridge daycare owner is facing a lifetime behind bars after being indicted on charges of predatory sexual assault against a child and possession of child pornography. Silfredo Castillo Martinez, 32, of Decatur Avenue, allegedly abused a boy in his care and hoarded depraved images and videos on his computer. The case, brought by Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, paints a horrifying picture of betrayal and exploitation.
The nightmare began to unravel on May 3, 2022, when agents from the U.S. Secret Service and officers from the NYPD raided Lina’s Garden Daycare, located on 3525 Decatur Avenue. Authorities seized 30 devices belonging to Castillo Martinez, quickly discovering a trove of 12 child pornography files stored in his Google Drive account. The files depicted boys between the ages of seven and 12, and, chillingly, one child under the age of one. Castillo Martinez was immediately taken into custody.
But the digital evidence was just the beginning. As investigators delved deeper into the seized files, they unearthed a photo and video of a child taken inside the daycare itself. These images confirmed the unthinkable: Castillo Martinez had sexually abused the boy, forcing him to endure multiple acts of horrific abuse. According to the District Attorney’s office, the boy has been “scarred for life” by the defendant’s actions. The defendant’s actions are described as ‘despicable and sickening’.
Castillo Martinez now faces a staggering list of charges, including two counts of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, two counts of first Criminal Sexual Act, two counts of second-degree Criminal Sexual Act, first degree Sexual Abuse, two counts of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, five counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, and 12 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. He was arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas, who set bail at a hefty $500,000 cash/$500,000 bond/$500,000 partially secured bond.
The District Attorney’s office is urging anyone who may have been a victim of Castillo Martinez, or who has information about potential victims, to come forward. The NYPD Bronx Child Abuse Squad can be reached at (929) 265-3638. Assistant District Attorney Carissa Caukin of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau is leading the prosecution, supported by a team of experienced prosecutors. The Secret Service’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with detectives from the NYPD Computer Crimes and Special Victims Child Squad, played a crucial role in the investigation.
It’s vital to remember that an indictment is not a finding of guilt, but a formal accusation. However, the evidence presented in this case is deeply disturbing, and if convicted, Silfredo Castillo Martinez will face a severe reckoning for the unimaginable harm he allegedly inflicted on a vulnerable child. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are determined to uncover the full extent of his depravity.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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