Silver Lake Daily Newsletter.com

---

x
Children As Young As 4 and 5:
Alleged area Child Rapist Arrested for multiple violent felonies over 60 years

x

FRANK J. WRIGHT

Frank J. Wright stands accused of wreaking havoc in the lives of Livingston County's children for the last 60 years. Mr. Wright, an Allegany County man, has been arrested on numerous violent felony charges in connection with child rape and sex abuse allegations which stretch back many years. The investigation began Oct. 5, 2020, when deputies responded to a village of Avon residence for a report of sexual abuse that occurred when the caller was a young child. The victim told deputies she was sexually abused in the late 1990s by a person she knew.

Sheriff’s investigators began looking into the victim’s allegations, and learned of additional victims who were allegedly sexually abused and raped by the suspect dating back more than 60 years. The victims were all children at the time of the alleged crimes. During the course of the investigation, sheriff’s investigators interviewed victims in New York state and traveled to meet with others outside of the state.

Frank J. Wright, 75, of Wellsville, was arrested March 25 by sheriff’s investigators and charged with five counts of first-degree rape, a class B felony, for crimes he is accused of committing in the town of Avon between 1987 and 1988. It is alleged that the crimes began when the victim was 12 years old, the Sheriff’s Office said.

“The case is ongoing and more charges are expected both inside our county and outside,” Livingston County Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty told The Livingston County News. Dougherty said he expects more victims will come forward after news of Wright’s arrest. “We will always thoroughly investigate all accusations of victims,” Dougherty said.

Wright was taken to Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention. The county District Attorney’s Office requested that he be remanded on $100,000 bail or $200,000 bond. Wright was later arraigned before Town of North Dansville Justice David Werth, who committed him jailed in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.

More charges were filed the following day including:

■ Wright was charged March 26 with five counts of first-degree sodomy, a class B felony, for crimes he allegedly committed in Springwater between 1992 and 1996. The crimes were committed against a different victim and began when the child was 5 years old, sheriff’s investigators said.

The District Attorney’s Office was again contacted in regard to bail due to the additional felony-level charges. The office again requested that Wright be remanded on $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond. Wright was later arraigned before Justice Werth, who did committed him to jail in lieu of an additional $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

■ Wright was later charged on March 26 with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, a class D felony, and one count of second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a class D felony, for crimes he allegedly committed in 1988 in the town of Avon. The crimes were committed against a third victim, beginning when she was 4 years old, sheriff’s investigators said.

Wright was arraigned the following morning before Justice Werth. The District Attorney’s Office requested Wright be remanded on $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond on the new charges. Werth set an additional $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.

The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office was present and represented Wright at all of his arraignments. The District Attorney’s Office was notified but chose not to appear. Wright remains at Livingston County Jail awaiting his next court appearance. Any additional victims are asked to contact the Sheriff’s office at (585) 243-7100 or (844) LCSO-TIP

The investigation was conducted by Sheriff’s Investigator Connor Sanford in coordination with Acting Criminal Investigations Division Captain Michael Williams, and other members of the division with assistance from the Patrol Division. “The members of CID did an exceptional job and I am very proud of their efforts, Dougherty said.

Courtesy of The Daily News and

The Livingston County Courier

---