OCEANSIDE, N.Y. – A 61-year-old East Rockaway man has been arrested after a 15-year-old girl and her father reported allegations of sexual abuse involving her employer at an Oceanside pizzeria earlier this month, according to Nassau County Police.
Detectives said the incident was reported to have occurred on the afternoon of August 10, 2025, inside Pizzaiola Oceanside on Long Beach Road. The girl, who was employed at the restaurant, told police that owner Joseph Piccolo, of Main Street in East Rockaway, allegedly invited her into his private office when no one else was present. She further alleged that Piccolo gave her money and then inappropriately touched her.
According to police, the teen left the restaurant out of fear and later told her father what had occurred. Together, they contacted authorities, who began an investigation. Five days later, on August 15, Piccolo was taken into custody without incident at the Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct in Hewlett.
Piccolo faces charges of forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree sexual abuse. He was arraigned the following day at First District Court in Hempstead.
Authorities have stressed that these charges are allegations at this stage of the case. Piccolo is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Detectives from the Fourth Squad are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim to contact investigators at 516-573-6453.
Understanding the Charges & Outcomes in New York
Cases involving allegations of forcible touching, third-degree sexual abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child can sometimes be resolved through plea bargains, depending on the evidence, the victim’s willingness to testify, and other legal factors.
- Forcible Touching (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Often charged in cases where physical evidence may be limited.
- Prosecutors sometimes allow plea deals to lesser harassment charges if proving intent or sexual motivation is difficult.
- Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Involves subjecting another person to sexual contact without consent.
- Plea deals can result in violations (like second-degree harassment) in weaker cases, but when minors are involved, prosecutors are typically more aggressive.
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Broad charge, often added to strengthen the case.
- Sometimes used as the “fallback” plea charge in negotiations, especially if sexual abuse allegations are hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
Statistics & Reality in New York
- Studies and legal reporting suggest that a large percentage of misdemeanor-level sex crime charges are pled down. Felony sex crimes are less likely to be reduced, but misdemeanor-level charges often end in plea bargains.
- According to New York State Division of Criminal Justice data, over half of misdemeanor sex abuse cases do not go to trial – they are resolved by plea deals.
- When a juvenile victim is involved, as in this case, plea deals still occur but tend to carry stricter conditions – like probation, mandatory sex offender registration, or treatment programs – even if the top charges are reduced.
Why Plea Deals Happen
- Victim Impact: Prosecutors may want to spare a minor the trauma of testifying in court.
- Evidence Strength: If DNA, video, or witness corroboration is lacking, the DA may accept a plea.
- Court Efficiency: Pleas resolve cases faster, easing court backlogs.
While every case is unique, it is not uncommon for these types of charges, especially when they are misdemeanors, to be pled down or reduced. However, when a minor is involved, prosecutors are usually far more reluctant to dismiss or significantly reduce charges without strong justification.
