Derrick Clancy pleads guilty to breaking into Mastic Beach homes of 2 women in their 70s, sexually abusing them
Derrick Clancy at his arraignment in Riverhead. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to breaking into the homes of two women and sexually abusing them. Credit: Tom Lambui
A man who broke into the homes of two elderly women in Mastic Beach and sexually assaulted them pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglary, sexual abuse and other charges, Suffolk prosecutors said.
Derrick Clancy, 43, whom authorities have said was homeless, faces 22 years to life in prison.
Authorities said he cut a hole in a window screen to get into the home of a 78-year-old woman at 4 a.m. on Oct. 10. He physically and sexually abused her, saying he had a knife, then fled after she pressed a medical alert button, prosecutors said.
On Oct. 17, at 12:40 a.m., he climbed through a window to get into the home of another woman, 76, who lived just blocks away, authorities said. He abused her before fleeing, prosecutors said. The women were treated at an area hospital.
Authorities said Clancy was identified as a suspect after investigators matched his DNA with a sample taken from a window in one of the homes. He had prior violent felony convictions for sexual abuse in 2000 and a 2011 robbery, for which he was still on parole.
Suffolk police, U.S. Marshals and investigators from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and from Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office participated in the investigation.
“This defendant preyed on and violated two elderly women while they were supposed to be in the safe harbor of their own homes,” Tierney said in a news release. “Thanks to the great work of the Suffolk County Police Department officers and task force members, this defendant will no longer be able to harm Suffolk County residents.”
A lawyer for Clancy, Chris Brocato, said his client “took responsibility for his crimes. His plea eliminated the need for the two victims to have to testify and relive the crimes. He hopes his plea will serve as some closure for the two victims.”
Clancy pleaded guilty before acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis and is due back in court for sentencing June 21.
