Deer Park man charged with impersonating DSS worker, sexually abusing homeless shelter resident, DA Tierney says

A Deer Park man has been indicted on charges that he allegedly impersonated a Department of Social Services worker to gain access to a homeless shelter, where he sexually abused one of its residents, Suffolk prosecutors said Friday.

Alfred Balcerak III, 65, has been indicted on charges including first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and forcibly touching in the incident at an East Farmingdale homeless shelter last month, prosecutors said.

"The allegations against the defendant are extremely troubling," said Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney. "Crimes that target the homeless and mentally disabled are particularly heinous, as these victims are often isolated and lack the resources to defend themselves."

Asked for comment Friday, Balcerak attorney Matthew Tuohy said: “He’s saying that he’s maintaining his innocence. We are gathering all the facts and information as the case is moving forward.”

Prosecutors alleged that Balcerak approached the unidentified East Farmingdale shelter at about 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 and told security that he was from the Department of Social Services and had information on potential housing services to share with shelter residents.

Balcerak signed his name onto a visitor sheet listing himself as an employee from the Department of Social Services and provided an expired New York State driver’s license and his insurance card as identification, prosecutors said.

It's unclear why Balcerak was able to enter the facility without providing a DSS employee identification card. Officials from the shelter could not immediately be reached for comment.

Balcerak allegedly asked security if there were any males between the ages of 18 to 22 years old who needed housing assistance once he entered the facility and "was introduced to the disabled victim," prosecutors said, but did not specify by whom.

"Once inside the room, Balcerak allegedly held himself out to be a home health aide, cleaned the room and offered to assist the disabled victim with showering," prosecutors said in a news release. "Once the showering began, Balcerak allegedly touched the victim while making sexually explicit comments. The disabled victim told Balcerak to stop. When Balcerak left the residence, he allegedly took the disabled victim’s cellphone with him."

Suffolk County police arrested Balcerak at his home in Deer Park a week later.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis ordered Balcerak held on $150,000 cash, $500,000 bond or a $1,000,000 partially secured bond at his arraignment Thursday. Balcerak is also charged with petit larceny, second-degree criminal impersonation and third-degree sexual abuse.

The shelter is run by the Halo Network, a nonprofit organization which receives funding from DSS, according to a spokesperson for the DA's office, which said the company contracts with GardaWorld Security for its facilities.

A woman who answered the phone at the Halo Network Friday said she would leave a message for officials.

According to its website, Halo Network operates four shelters in Suffolk County, which are opened and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Suffolk County spokesman Michael Martino declined to comment for this story Friday.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.