Investigation Into Up

Jul 17, 2023

MAHOPAC, NY — A Hudson Valley man was initially arrested after police say he was accused of taking up-skirt picture of women at a shop, but disturbing images investigators found on his phone eventually led to child pornography charges.

On the Fourth of July, Town of Carmel police received a complaint of a man attempting to take pictures up the dress of a woman at a local grocery store.

Officers responded to the scene immediately. However, the suspect had fled in his car before they arrived. Carmel Police Department detectives discovered a second victim at the store and identified the suspect as a 47-year-old resident of Putnam Valley.

Derrick Rocco was arrested by on July 12, on two felony counts of unlawful surveillance and released with electronic monitoring pending his next court appearance, but on July 17, after a forensic examination of Rocco's cell phone conducted by Carmel Police Department detectives and Putnam County Sheriff's Office investigators, additional search warrants were obtained for Roccos's home and place of business in Mahopac.

As a result, Rocco was again taken into custody and charged with three felony counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child, one felony count of promoting a sexual performance by a child, and five additional felony counts of unlawful surveillance.

Rocco was then arraigned and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility on $75,000 cash bail or $150,000 bond.

Police said the case continues to be under investigation.

Carmel police thanked witnesses and local merchants for their assistance and expressed gratitude to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office for their help in the quick apprehension and investigation of Rocco.

The public is being asked to notify Carmel Police Department detectives at 845-628-1300 if they have any additional information about these incidents.