According to Oneida County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Derrick…

According to Oneida County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Derrick O'Meara, who is the Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, a Utica man has been arrested for having sexual contact with a female child under the age of 17.

Utica Police Investigator Frederick Bruzzese, who is assigned to the Child Advocacy Center, began his investigation in January of 2020. Through the investigation, it was found that Ricky Cummings, age 46, had inappropriately touched a female child inside a home in the City of Utica.

On February 27, 2020, Investigator Bruzzese arrested Cummings for 1 count of Forcible Touching, a class A Misdemeanor, 1 count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A Misdemeanor, and 1 count of Harassment in the 2nd Degree, a violation.

Cummings was processed at the Utica Police Department and issued appearance tickets returnable to Utica City Court. He will appear later in March to answer the charges against him. An Order of Protection was also requested on the child's behalf.

The child has been offered services through the Child Advocacy Center.