LI Man Indicted In Connection With Sexually Abusing Boy, 14, He Met On Dating App: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Suffolk man has been indicted in connection with the 2016 abuse of a 14-year-old boy he met through an online dating app, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Dylan Pace, 32, of Brookhaven, was charged with nine counts of second-degree criminal sexual act, felonies, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, misdemeanors.

In 2016, Pace, then 22, met the minor and "eventually" is to have sexually abused him, prosecutors said, adding, that during the alleged conversations with the teen, Pace is accused of threatening to contact the boy’s parents and expose his sexual identity if he did not send nude photos of himself.

The teen first reported the abuse to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which notified local law enforcement, prosecutors said.

Pace was ordered held on $500,000 cash, $2,500,000 million bond, or $5,000,000
million partially secured bond, pending his next court date on Sept. 29, according to prosecutors.

He faces seven years in prison on each felony, if convicted on the top counts.

His defense attorney, Robert Macedonio of Islip Terrace, told Patch that on behalf of Mr. Pace his team has entered a plea of not guilty.

"We’re looking forward to reviewing all of the discovery and vigorously defending Mr. Pace in the court of law," he added.

Tierney said that the "exploitation of children is among the most serious crimes we prosecute."
“The numerous allegations put forth in these indictments are truly disturbing," he said. "Our office remains committed to protecting children and holding alleged predators accountable.”

Pace was previously indicted in August for 25 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, 25 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child, and tampering with physical evidence, prosecutors said, adding that in that case, between November 2024 and February 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 13 tips that child sexual abuse material had been downloaded at the home where Pace resides.

During the execution of search warrants for Pace’s electronic devices, he threw his phone
out the window to prevent Suffolk police's Digital Forensics Unit officers from recovering it, prosecutors said.

Digital forensic analysis of Pace’s devices led to the recovery of thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material, according to prosecutors.

He was arrested on Aug. 25, and later indicted by a Grand Jury on charges related to the child sexual abuse material, but posted bond and had been out of jail until his rearrest on Sept. 10.

If you believe you have been victimized by Dylan Pace, please call the Suffolk police's Digital Forensics Unit at 631-852-6279.