A New Rochelle man has been charged in a 67-felony count indictment for sex offenses involving children in Westchester County.
Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said the defendant, Jason Ricketts, 22, of New Rochelle, is accused of creating and possessing images and videos of children engaged in sexual acts between 2019 and 2023, as well as physical acts of sexual abuse.
Ricketts was arrested by Rocah’s office Feb. 2 and remains in custody in Westchester County Jail.
Rocah said her office began an investigation after receiving a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She thanked the center and the New Rochelle Police Department for their assistance.
The resulting indictment by a Westchester County grand jury accused Ricketts of 34 counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, 12 counts of use of a child in a sexual performance, seven counts of second-degree criminal sexual act, six counts each of second-degree unlawful surveillance and third-degree criminal sexual act, predatory sexual assault against a child and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, all felonies; and one count of sexual misconduct, a misdemeanor.
Ricketts was arraigned on the charges in the indictment Thursday.
Involved in the DA office’s investigation were the Child Abuse Bureau, Cyber Crimes Bureau and criminal investigators with the High Technology Crimes Unit and Special Prosecutions Unit.
Anyone with information about other possible alleged victims of the defendant is asked to call Rocah’s Special Prosecutions office at 914- 995-3000.
Ricketts’ attorney, Russell B. Smith, declined to make a comment on his client’s behalf, saying he had just been assigned the case and has not had a chance to read the indictment.