Florida felon accused of sexually abusing kids on Long Island

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - A man already serving time in prison in Florida for felony sex crimes faces accusations that he sexually abused children he was babysitting over several years on Long Island, authorities said.

The Suffolk County Police Fugitive Squad extradited Benjamin Fielman, 27, from Florida Thursday.

On Friday, he pleaded not guilty to a 27-count indictment in Suffolk County Court. A judge ordered him held without bail.

Fielman is accused of abusing three unrelated children between 2009 and 2014 when he was living in Commack, District Attorney Timothy Sini said. He is charged with taking sexually explicit photos and videos of the abuse.

"This individual used the trust that was given to him by families in Suffolk County to carry out these depraved acts against children, our most vulnerable population," Sini said in a statement. "To subject a child to sexual abuse, inappropriate touching and exploitation is something that child will have to live with for the rest of his or her life."

Police in Florida arrested Fielman in 2014 in connection with the sexual abuse of a child. Three years later, he pleaded guilty to felony sex crimes involving children.

During the investigation of that case, detectives in Florida found child pornography in Fielman's possession, traced the images to Long Island, and contacted Suffolk County cops.

The SCPD's Computer Crimes Unit launched a probe, which led them to the alleged victims and prompted the charges in New York.

A Legal Aid Society attorney who is representing Fielman in the New York case said he has seen "no evidence against him," the AP reported.

Sini has "serious concerns" that Fielman may have abused other children because he worked as a babysitter for several families in Suffolk County and was an assistant teacher at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack for several years.

"We are asking anyone with information about this particular defendant to contact law enforcement," Sini said. "It's always hard for folks to come forward about sex crimes for a variety of reasons, but we have true professionals who work in the Police Department and who work in the District Attorney's Office who will ensure that any victims who come forward will be treated with respect and dignity."