High Risk Sex Offender, a Former Priest, Living in Hudson Valley
High ranking officials are warning the public about a high risk sex offender--a former priest and lottery winner--who is still living in the Hudson Valley.
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith posted on his official website that 69-year-old Joseph Faraone is now living at the Bel Aire Motor Lodge in Brewster. Faraone is considered a level 3 sex offender, which means that authorities believe the risk of a repeat offense is high.
Faradone had sexual contact with a 50-year-old mentally disabled female in August of 2015. He is currently on probation under the supervision of the Putnam County Probation Department.
According to USA Today, Faraone was the associate pastor at Church of St. Denis in Hopewell Junction from 2004 to 2006. He also served for 12 years at St. James the Apostle Church in Carmel, and various churches in Westchester County for 20 years.
In 1985, while a priest in Yorktown, he won $1.17 million playing the New York Lotto. After winning he said he was going to give half of his winnings to the church while giving the other half to family, friends, and charities.