Former Williamsbridge daycare owner sentenced to 20 years in prison for child pornography and sexual abuse – Bronx Times

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced last month a 20-year prison sentence, on top of federal penalties, for Silfredo Castillo Martinez34, who previously pleaded guilty to charges of sexual abuse and child pornography relating to a child in the daycare he owned.

“The defendant owned a daycare center and turned it into a house of horror for at least one young boy. He also possessed thousands of images of child pornography, some of which featured a victim less than a year old,” Clark said in a statement announcing the sentencing. “He will now spend 20 years in prison for such monstrous behavior.”

Castillo Martinez owned Lila’s Garden Daycare at 3525 Decatur Ave. in the Williamsbridge neighborhood and had an apartment next door to the daycare. In May 2022, a search of the daycare and his home turned up photos and videos of sexual abuse of boys between the ages of 7 and 12 and one infant under the age of 1.

Investigators also found a photo and video taken at the daycare of a boy who attended the program, estimated to be 10 years old. Investigators discovered that the suspect sexually abused the boy multiple times and forced him to perform sexual acts on him.

Castillo Martinez pleaded guilty in Bronx Supreme Court in May to one count each of first-degree criminal sexual act, use of a child in a sexual act, promotion of a sexual act by a child and possession of a sexual act by a child. On those charges, he was sentenced on August 13 to a total of 27 to 35 years in prison.

Castillo Martinez also pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and was sentenced in June to 25 years in prison. The state and federal sentences will run concurrently, and he will be subject to post-release supervision and registration as a sex offender.

Local lawmakers have taken steps to increase daycare inspections and transparency between owners and families in the wake of the death of a 1-year-old in 2023 Nicholas Dominiciwho died after being exposed to fentanyl at a daycare center in Kingsbridge.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera sponsored legislation to allow full inspection of every room in homes used for daycare centers and to require owners to notify and keep families informed of every person living there, among other provisions. The bill passed unanimously passed by the Senate in June.

Contact Emily Swanson at [email protected] or (646) 717-0015. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes for more information.