STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Staten Island man was arrested and accused of attempting to lure a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl for sexual purposes, according to police.
Marc Donato, 53, of Dinsmore Street in Bulls Head was arrested on Oct. 23, at approximately 4 p.m. near 1 Richmond Terrace, police said. He faces multiple charges including attempted luring of a child, attempted rape, attempted endangering the welfare of a child and attempted sexual abuse, according to the criminal complaint.
Investigators are urging any parents whose children may have had prior contact with Donato to reach out to the NYPD Sex Crimes Hotline at 212-267-RAPE (7273).
Police allege Donato had been communicating via text message with an undercover officer from the Organized Crime Task Force of the New York State Attorney General’s Office over a six-week period starting Sept. 10. The officer was posing as a 15-year-old girl named “Bella.”
According to the criminal complaint, the communications contained sexually explicit material, with Donato allegedly acknowledging the girl’s purported age. In one exchange on Sept. 10, when the undercover officer referenced being 15 years old, Donato allegedly replied that it was “kinda exciting & forbidden to be honest.”
Police accuse Donato of arranging a meeting with the person he believed to be the minor at the Staten Island Ferry terminal in St. George on Oct. 23. When contacted by the undercover officer who said she was about to get off the ferry, Donato allegedly responded that he would “wait by H&M” and that she was “about to make me do something illegal,” police said.
Upon arrest, police said Donato allegedly told officers, “I’m talking to a bunch of girls online, this is a fantasy of mine to have sex with a stepdaughter… if she was 15 and got to my car I might have let her in.”
Prosecutors requested bail be set at $10,000 cash/$30,000 bond, but the presiding judge denied the request and ordered Donato released under supervision, according to a spokesperson for the Richmond County District Attorney’s office.
“Mr. Donato categorically denies these allegations,” his attorney, Lou Gelormino told the Advance/SILive.com. “We look forward to a full investigation into the facts where we expect Mr. Donato to be fully vindicated.”
His next scheduled appearance in Criminal Court, St. George, is Dec. 15, according to court documents.
Additionally, the NYPD is asking for other potential victims to come forward by calling the Sexual Assault Hotline at 646-610-7272 or Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477).
Spanish speakers can call 888-57-PISTA (74782), or the public can submit tips online at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on X @NYPDTips.
All calls are confidential.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.