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Convicted Sex Offender Living in JV Arrested on Child Molestation Charges

CARMEL, N.Y.- A convicted sex offender from Jefferson Valley was charged with sexual molestation after luring boys from the Internet, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

Jonathan L. DeLaura, 37, of 400 East Main St. in Jefferson Valley, thought he was going to hook up with one of the young men he had met on the Internet in a parking lot in Putnam Valley, but was met instead by two Putnam investigators. He was arrested and charged with sexual molestation of an underage child. 

Police said DeLaura had allegedly used the Internet to meet underage children in chat rooms. With screen names such as "Sillyrabbit," "Damastrmynd," and "Riddlerboy" he allegedly befriended young boys and then started sexually explicit conversations with them, according to police.

He would request explicit photographs of the children, and if they did, DeLaura would reveal he was a male and attempt to meet and engage in sexual acts with them, police said. If the boy declined or did meet him, he would use the conversations and photos to stop the victims from calling police.

DeLaura allegedly warned his victims that should they call the police he would expose the photos and conversations to their friends, family and coaches. He also told them he had already provided information about the boys to other people who would expose them if he was unable to. 

Police report that according to New York State records, DeLaura was sentenced to 60 days in jail and six years probation after he was convicted by Bronx County Supreme Court of engaging in sexual conduct with a 12-year-old boy in October of 2009. In the past, he had used the name Jon Dulak. 

Police posing as a victim arranged for DeLaura to meet them after after midnight on Feb. 3. He was charged with three counts of criminal sexual act in the third degree, each a felony, and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, each a misdemeanor. 

DeLaura was arraigned in Putnam Valley and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $75,000 cash bail or $150,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m.

The Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Investigation is continuing the investigation with assistance from the Putnam County District Attorney's Office. They believe there may be other victims who have had contact with DeLaura. They encourage anyone with information to call them and said all calls will be kept strictly confidential. The investigators can be reached at (845) 225-8060.

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