Schenectady man gets up to life in prison for sexually abusing child

A man was sentenced to 43 years to life in prison for sexually abusing a child over an eight-year period in Schenectady.

Frank Mastroianni, 56, was convicted in March after a predatory sexual assault predatory sexual assault of a child, two counts of criminal sex act, attempted criminal sexual act and sexual abuse.

The abuse dates to 2011 when the girl was 7 years old and ended in 2019, just before the child’s 15th birthday, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.

In 2015, the victim had disclosed the abuse to a family member, who reported it to law enforcement. However, a family member put tremendous pressure on the child to recant and the victim eventually did so, the DA’s Office said.  

Prosecutors brought charges in Family Court, where the standard of proof is lower, and children’s disclosures can be admitted as evidence without requiring that they testify. The abuse charges resulted in an order of protection being issued that required Mastroianni to stay away from the victim for several years.

After the order expired, the defendant moved back in with the victim and her family immediately, the DA’s Office said. In March 2023, when the victim turned 18, she reported the abuse again. She and her mother testified at trial.

The victim provided a victim impact statement asking Judge Matthew Sypniewski to impose a sentence that would ensure Mastroianni could never harm another child.

Spyniewski handed down the maximum sentence allowed under the law.

He also issued a 32 year long order of protection.