Suffolk Cops Help Nab CT Man For Kid Porn, Rape

Suffolk Cops Help Nab CT Man For Kid Porn, Rape

November 19, 2008

Nicole Snyder

FBI officials and Connecticut State police arrested a Connecticut man on Saturday, Nov. 15, for the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl—an arrest that wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Computer Crimes Unit.

An undercover detective assigned to the Computer Crimes Unit started the investigation after he had conversations online about sexually abusing children with someone under the alias of “KidsR4Sex,” police say.

The FBI quickly became involved, making it into a federal investigation with the assistance of the Connecticut police. After a search of the man’s residence, police were able to obtain a warrant that led to the arrest of Craig Niles, 59, of Stafford, Conn.

Niles, who has no criminal record, was charged with sexual assault, employing and promoting a minor in an obscene performance, impairing the morals of a minor, risk of injury to a minor and possession of child pornography. He is also accused of engaging in a sexual activity with an 11-year-old foster child in his custody and broadcasting it on the internet, authorities said.

Police said Niles admitted having as many as 30 sexual encounters with the girl. Police also discovered videos of Niles sexually abusing the girl in his Stafford home.

The girl and two other foster children in the home have been taken into state custody.

Niles was arraigned Monday in Rockville Superior Court, where a Connecticut judge increased his bond from $500,000 to $750,000 after it was found that he might be further charged involving a federal and state pornography investigation.