On April 12, 2026, a Pittsfield man who worked at a Columbia County group home was arrested after state police said he repeatedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old resident over roughly five months. The defendant, 39-year-old Andres Lima, was arraigned and sent to the Columbia County Jail with cash-bail and bond options in place. Prosecutors filed dozens of felony counts, including multiple counts of second-degree rape, and the arrest has sparked a joint investigation by local and state law enforcement partners.
Charges detailed by state police
According to a press release from the New York State Police, investigators with the Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested Lima on a total of 35 counts of second-degree rape: 20 counts involving vaginal sexual contact and 15 counts involving oral sexual contact. The release also states that he is charged with first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors, criminal possession of a sexual performance by a child, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and a harassment violation. State police outlined the facts of the arrest and the full slate of charges in the written summary.
Arraignment and custody status
As reported by the Times Union, Lima was arraigned in Columbia County Court on April 13 and remanded to the Columbia County Jail. Bail was set at $35,000 cash, $70,000 bond or an $85,000 partially secured bond, and jail records show he remained in custody following the hearing. Local records at this point do not indicate whether the group home has taken formal employment action.
Investigation partners and timeline
State police say the investigation opened in March and that detectives concluded the alleged abuse stretched over a five-month period. The New York State Police release notes that troopers worked with the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, the Troop C Child Advocacy Center, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pittsfield Police Department. Officials described an extensive probe that involved gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. The case is listed under number NY2600354009, and investigators have asked anyone with information to contact Troop K headquarters.
The Kinderhof home
Public service listings identify the facility involved as the Kinderhof Group Home in Valatie, a residential program for adolescents in Columbia County. Regional service directories describe Kinderhof as a 24-hour group residence for youth in care, functioning as a licensed placement for adolescents. The program appears in local community resource listings for youth residential services and supports, reflecting its role in the county’s care network.
What the charges mean under state law
Under New York law, rape in the second degree is a class D felony. When sentenced under the state’s sex-offense provisions, a class D sex felony typically carries a prison term of about two to seven years, although the actual sentence can vary based on a defendant’s history and the specifics of the case. The penal code also allows for alternative sentencing in some circumstances and enhanced penalties for repeat or violent offenders, so the potential outcome in this case will depend on how prosecutors and the court choose to proceed within that statutory framework.
How to pass along tips
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact New York State Police Troop K at (845) 677-7300 and reference case number NY2600354009. Those details were included in the New York State Police release, and investigators say additional tips could help the ongoing probe. Information may also be reported to the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office as the investigation continues.
