Hempstead man, 33, charged in child sex abuse

A 33-year-old Hempstead man has been charged with sexual abuse for engaging in "inappropriate sexual contact" with a child, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

Leroy L. Morrell was charged with three counts of second-degree aggravated sexual abuse and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, officials said. He was arrested Thursday in Lakeview by Special Victims Section detectives, the Nassau County Fugitive Squad and U.S. marshals.

Police said the crimes occurred between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1.

Morrell was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.