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Yonkers resident Rebecca Jean-Baptiste was sentenced to a 10-year mandatory probation period with sex offender conditions for third-degree rape in connection with an incident that happened at the Dobbs Ferry Children's Village campus, the Westchester County DA's Office said on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
According to the DA's Office, in late 2021, Jean-Baptiste had sex with a 16-year-old resident of the New York City-contracted facility, which provides programs and services for over 400 at-risk youth.
Jean-Baptiste had been employed as a Limited Secure Placement Specialist responsible for direct care of teenagers, and later as a Control Room specialist watching cameras throughout the campus, officials said.
In May 2022, facility staff reported the incident to the Justice Center, which oversees abuse and neglect incidents in state-licensed juvenile centers and schools. The incident was referred to the New York City Department of Investigation, which worked on the case with the DA's Office.
Jean-Baptiste eventually pled guilty to third-degree rape in June 2024. In addition to her probation period, she will be required to register as a sex offender and will be prohibited from going to places where children may frequent.
A permanent order of protection was also issued in favor of the victim, officials said.
The Justice Center's Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi-Murray called Jean-Baptiste's actions a "gross exploitation of power and a violation of her moral responsibility to keep those in her care safe."
"Let this sentence send a message to abusers of vulnerable individuals," Lisi-Murray continued.
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