A Long Island police officer accused of touching a young boy on two separate occasions has been charged with felony child sex abuse and related crimes.
Suffolk County cop Sean Mahony was arrested on Dec. 9, according to a four-count indictment unsealed Monday. The 45-year-old, who has been with the department for 22 years, has been suspended without pay.
Mahony pleaded not guilty on Monday to two counts of child sex abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, court records show.
He “steadfastly denies these horrible allegations,” which his defense attorney, Anthony La Pinta, calls “as bizarre as they are unimaginable,” Patch Long Island reported.
The Port Jefferson resident was released without bail at his arraignment. He’s expected back in court on Feb. 25.
Suffolk County Judge Karen Wilutis issued a temporary order of protection.
According to La Pinta, the boy’s mother reported the alleged incident to authorities, accusations he slammed as “simply outrageous.”
“They have devastated his career and his name,” La Pinta told News12 Long Island. “We are going to conduct an investigation and we plan to be active in response to these hurtful and devastating comments.”
Mahony was one of four officers to receive the 2009 Silver Shield Award from the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association for “their outstanding acts of personal bravery, professionalism and determination” when responding to an armed shooter in Bellmore in August of that year.
The Silver Shield, the highest award given by the Suffolk County PBA, is bestowed upon those who “perform extreme acts of heroism, bravery and exceptional service.”
La Pinta did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday afternoon.