Photo courtesy of the NYPD
The NYPD is asking for the public’s help in providing further information on the individual seen in the attached photo who was arrested for allegedly possessing multiple pornographic images of sex acts with children.
Silfredo A. Castillo Martinez, 32, of Decatur Avenue in The Bronx was employed at a daycare center located at 3525 Decatur Avenue #1AA & 1AB in Norwood, between July 2011 and May 2022.
Photo by Miriam Quiñones
He was arrested and charged with violating New York State penal code 263.15, “promoting a sexual performance by a child when, knowing the character and content thereof, he produces, directs or promotes any performance which includes sexual conduct by a child less than seventeen years of age,” and New York State 263.16, “possessing a sexual performance by a child when, knowing the character and content thereof, a person knowingly has in his possession or control, or knowingly accesses with intent to view any performance which includes sexual conduct by a child less than sixteen years of age.”
Norwood News attempted, unsuccessfully, to speak to anyone at the suspect’s home for comment. We also went to the daycare center to speak with some of the staff/parents. There was a sign outside the center, informing residents that it was temporarily closed.
Photo by Miriam Quiñones
We observed some people at the location who were discussing the arrest of Castillo Martinez, while others appeared to have no idea what had happened. One parent said the incident was the reason why she never leaves her kids with anyone. Another parent said she was praying the suspect had not harmed the children at the center. Nobody wanted to disclose their name or have their photo taken.
One apparent neighbor, who answered the phone in an apartment in the building where the suspect lived on Decatur Avenue, and who declined to give his name, told us, in part, “I’m sorry sir, but I don’t have a comment about that. You know, this is a serious situation that we’re passing on right now, so I don’t want to comment about it, all right? I’m so sorry.”
A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or person is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips anonymously by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story included wording used by a legal firm in reference to Penal Codes 263.15 and 263.16. The story has since been updated to reflect the actual Penal Code wording under the law.
admin
Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.
English
Arabic
Bengali
Chinese (Simplified)
French
Spanish