29 COUNT INDICTMENT IN CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE

DELHI - Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced that the Delaware County Grand Jury returned a twenty-nine-count indictment against Jeffrey Emerich 38, of Downsville, New York on October 16.

Counts One through Twenty allege Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree, each being a Class D Felony.  It is alleged that Jeffrey Emerich, from the summer of 2020 through spring of 2024 did subject a person to sexual conduct by forcible compulsion repeatedly.

Count Twenty-One alleges Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor. It is alleged that Jeffrey Emerich from the summer of 2020 to spring of 2024 did act in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental and moral welfare of a child less than seventeen years old.

Count Twenty-Two alleges Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree, a Class D Felony.  It is alleged that Jeffery Emerich, in the summer of 2022 did subject another person to sexual conduct when the other person was less than 13 years old and he was twenty-one years old or older.

Count Twenty-Three alleges Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree, a Class D Felony.  It is alleged that Jeffrey Emerich, in the summer of 2023 did subject another person to sexual conduct when the other person was less than 13 years old and he was twenty-one years old or older.

Count Twenty-Four alleges Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor.  It is alleged that Jeffery Emerich, in the summer of 2023 did subject another person to sexual conduct when the other person was less than 14 years old.

Count Twenty-Five alleges Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor. It is alleged that Jeffrey Emerich from the summer of 2022 to the summer of 2024 did act in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental and moral welfare of a child less than seventeen years old.

Counts Twenty-Six through Twenty-Eight allege Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree, each a Class B Misdemeanor.  It is alleged that on three occasions between the summer of 2024 and the  summer of 2025, Jeffery Emerich did subject another person to sexual contact.

Count Twenty-Nine alleges Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor. It is alleged that Jeffery Emerich from the summer of 2024 to mid-July 2025 did act in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental and moral welfare of a child less than seventeen years old.

As with all cases involving minors, the identity of the victims are being withheld per office policy.

District Attorney Smith commended Officer Richard Bell and the Colchester Police Department for their investigation into this case. He also thanked the staff at Safe Against Violence for their advocacy with the child victims. 

Chief Assistant District Attorney Richard Northrup Jr. and Assistant District Attorney Rachael Collins presented the case to the Grand Jury.

Indictments and Criminal Complaints are allegations.  All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. 

Shawn J. Smith 

District Attorney 

Delaware County