According to Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy…

According to Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O’Meara, Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, a 47 year old New Hartford man has been arrested for having sex with a 13 year old boy.

On December 19, 2019, Connecticut State Police contacted the Utica Police Department with information that they had received regarding an adult male having sex with a 13 year old boy who had been visiting the Utica area over the 2019 Thanksgiving Holiday. The case was turned over to the Child Advocacy Center for investigation. Utica Police Department Sergeant Frederick Bruzzese, assigned to the Child Advocacy Center at the time, was assigned as the case agent.

The investigation revealed that the adult male, Shawn W. Brooks, of New Hartford, who was 46 years old at the time of the incident, met the 13 year old boy on the internet while the boy was staying in the Utica area. Brooks made arrangements to meet the boy in the City of Utica, where he engaged in sex with the child.

The case was presented to the Oneida County Grand Jury on December 1, 2020, and Brooks was indicted on charges of Criminal Sexual Act 2nd degree, (Class D Felony), and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, (Class A Misdemeanor).

Brooks was taken into custody on December 9, 2020, by members of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division and the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force. Brooks was arraigned on the Indictment in Oneida County Court on December 10, 2020 and was released in his own recognizance.

An Order of Protection was issued on behalf of the victim and the victim has been offered services through the Child Advocacy Center.