Cortlandt Rape Suspect Arrested; Police Say He Skipped Court Date

Dean Picariello was found hiding in a basement inside a Montrose home Wednesday by police who said they searched for him because he missed  a Monday court appearance on a rape charge.

Westchester County Police initially arrested Picariello, 22, and charged him with third-degree rape and second-degree distribution of indecent material, both felonies, along with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, on Dec. 14. Picariello allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old girl in Cortlandt and sent her sexually explicit text messages, police said.

On Wednesday, the Westchester County Police Warrant-Fugitive Unit went searching for him and developed information that he was staying at an acquaintance’s home, located Sunset Avenue in Montrose.
   
Police went to arrest Picariello and found him hiding in a basement at about 3:15 p.m., they said. Picariello is currently being held without bail.

Picariello was free on $5,000 bail prior to Monday’s court appearance.

Picariello was also wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the New York State Police in Orange County charging second-degree rape and other charges for having sex with different minor.

Westchester County Police said they are continuing to investigate Picariello’s contacts with minors. He was known to work as a DJ in the area under the name Dino Mack. Anyone with information may call detectives in the General Investigations Unit at (877)220-3560. All calls will be kept confidential.