Press-Republican

Local News

September 30, 2008

Retired teacher charged with sex abuse of 3

FORT COVINGTON — A retired school teacher from California abused three boys in Franklin County, police say.

Native New Yorker Patrick Romeo was charged Monday night with two felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three misdemeanor counts of forcible touching.

Romeo, who has residences in both California and Fort Covington, was also charged with second-degree sexual abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.

Malone-based State Police say the retired 67-year-old teacher abused three boys — ages 7, 10 and 12 — locally over a period of time.

Romeo, who has family ties to the area, is listed on the California Sex Offender Registry, based on his past conviction for lewd or lascivious acts with a teen.

Police said he molested a 14-year-old girl in Illinois in the late 1990s.

Romeo allegedly did not notify California or New York officials when he moved to this area, and he is not listed on the New York Sex Offender Registry.

It was unclear Tuesday when he relocated to Fort Covington from Orange County.

He had reportedly taught out-of-state for several years but has since retired.

Local authorities are continuing to investigate the alleged abuse and said additional charges are likely.

Romeo was still being held at Franklin County Jail Tuesday afternoon, unable to post $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. He is due in court at a later date to face the charges.



E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at:

avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News

Recent Article Comments
Albany Round-up
Photo of the Day
Strange News
Videos: Editor Picks
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin 6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40 On Thailand Trip, Suu Kyi Visits Migrants Raw Video: Pink Diamond Auctioned for $17.4M Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report 15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108 Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD