A Manhattan male nanny was charged yesterday with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy left in his care. The 23-year-old Richard Figueroa was busted after the boy, whom Figueroa had been looking after for three years, asked his mom why "Richie always wants to kiss me on the lips," after which she called the cops.
Figueroa allegedly performed lewd acts on the child, including oral sex, and cops are now interviewing at least seven other boys Figueroa has cared for. Neighbors and community members in Morningside Heights are horrified at the charges. "That's the ultimate violation of trust," one neighbor told WABC, while another said, "This community is very safe. Everybody looks out for each other, but people like this living around our kids—that's a scary feeling." Figueroa was taken into custody on Thursday night and was arraigned yesterday on charges of sexual assault on a child and committing a sexual act on a child. He is being held on $200,000 bail.
Figueroa used to work as a substitute teacher at the Morningside Montessori School, and began working as a nanny after families recommended him and advertising on two child care websites. On one profile, he allegedly wrote, "I am a positive male role model and figure in a child's life... Fun, energetic, loving and reliable." His lawyer claims he has no criminal past, but "there have been psychological issues that he's trying to get past."
