Sex Offender Charged With Felonies For Flouting NY Registry Rules

PUTNAM VALLEY, NY — A Lake Peekskill resident declared a level 3 sex offender in 2016 faces felony charges for failing to follow the registry rules.

In May of 2023, a Sheriff's Office Investigator began an investigation on 26-year-old Erick J. Santander, who is required by law to verify his address every 90 days and appear for a yearly photograph. He had repeatedly failed to do so, police said.

According to the New York State Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services, Santander was 18 in 2015 when he was arrested for having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl. He was convicted in 2016 on a charge of forcible touching, a misdemeanor, sentenced to six years of probation, and put on the registry at level 3, high risk of re-offense.

His last photo for the registry was taken in 2021.

After missing several appointments to appear at the Sheriff's Office, Santander presented himself on Aug. 24. He was taken into custody and charged with violations of the NYS Corrections Law of two counts of Failure to Provide a Photo and for failing to appear and provide a photo for the last two years. Also, one count each of Failing to Verify Address Every 90 Days and Fail to Verify Personal Information to the DCJS Sex Offender Registry.

All the charges are felonies.

Santander was processed and issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Putnam Valley Town Court at a future date, according to the announcement from Sheriff Kevin J. McConville.

Santander has his primary residence at 63 Mathes St. in Lake Peekskill, according to the registry.