Cop Admits Having Sex With Underage Girls

NYC cop admits having sex with underage girls
The Journal News by Steve Lieberman - July 11, 2009  

A New York City police officer has pleaded guilty to federal charges of having sexual intercourse with three young girls - at least two of whom were students in his New Jersey martial arts school. The Rockland Computer Crimes Task Force played a role in the investigation leading to Trent Young's arrest in January 2008 and conviction on Thursday in U.S. District Court in White Plains. Young, 41, a suspended officer held in federal custody since his arrest, could face up to life in prison when sentenced Jan. 15. Young pleaded guilty before Judge Kenneth M. Karas to driving two 14-year-olds and a 16-year-old across New York and New Jersey lines on separate times for sex from April 2003 to December 2006 and then having sexual intercourse with them. The statutory prison sentences for the three sex crimes range from five and 30 years to life in prison.

Prison terms are usually less under federal sentencing guidelines. Young has been held without bail since his arrest. The case against Young is outlined in federal indictment, along with Young's plea statements in court to prosecutors Marcia Cohen and James Halperin. In April 2003, Young drove a 14-year-old girl from her home in Brooklyn to his home in Middletown, N.Y., traveling through New Jersey. He admitted they engaged in sexual intercourse at his house in Orange County. In the spring of 2006, Young operated a martial arts studio, Iron Tiger Martial Arts, in West Milford, N.J. In November 2006, Young drove another 14-year-old girl from Middletown to the New Jersey martial arts studio and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Around November or December 2006, Young brought a 16-year-old girl to Iron Tiger and they had sexual intercourse. Acting U.S. Attorney Lev. L. Dassin said in a news release that the investigation into Young included the FBI, Middletown Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney's Office, the Rockland County Sheriff's Department and the Computer Crimes Task Force, the West Milford Police Department in New Jersey, and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.  slieberm@lohud.com