Three men are facing criminal charges in Orange County after undercover officers posing as minors online communicated with them, according to New York State Police. The suspects range from a 54-year-old Pine Bush man held on $60,000 bail to a New Jersey man released without bail after his arraignment, with a third man from Liberty issued an appearance ticket.
The joint operation involved New York State Police officers who communicated with suspects while posing as minors on digital platforms, according to a New York State Police statement. As reported by News 12 New York, the sting was carried out with assistance from Port Jervis police, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, and other local, state and federal agencies.
Pine Bush Man Held on $60,000 Bail
Leroy Bruyn, 54, of Pine Bush, was arraigned on August 15, 2026, in Orange County on three counts of attempted second-degree rape and one count of attempted child endangerment, per the state police release. Bail was set at $15,000 cash, $30,000 bond, or a $60,000 partially secured bond, and Bruyn was remanded to the Orange County Jail.
Stephane Pontoizeau, 39, of Mendham, New Jersey, was arraigned in Middletown City Court on charges of attempted second-degree rape and attempted child endangerment. Unlike Bruyn, Pontoizeau was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment, meaning no bail was required for his initial court appearance, state police said.
Liberty Man Issued Appearance Ticket
The third suspect, 31-year-old Ramon Josue Lopez-Moreno of Liberty, was issued an appearance ticket. State police directed him to appear in Port Jervis City Court, according to HV Newswire.
What the Charges Could Mean Legally
The article's legal discussion does not specify the classification or potential sentence for attempted second-degree rape. It notes that the child endangerment charges facing Bruyn and Pontoizeau are misdemeanors, while under Penal Law Section 70.15 a Class B misdemeanor conviction carries a maximum definite jail sentence of up to 90 days.
The Participating Agencies
The Orange County operation involved state police and assistance from local, state, and federal agencies. No comparable Sullivan County operation is described here.
The article describes the initial arraignments in Middletown and Orange County for Pontoizeau and Bruyn, while Lopez-Moreno received an appearance ticket for Port Jervis City Court.
