Hudson Valley Sex Offender Accused of Transporting Minor For Sex

A man living in the Hudson Valley who raped a child and allegedly acted as a psychologist without a license is now accused of transporting a minor from the local area for sex.

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On Tuesday, officials announced the arrest of 54-year-old Eduardo Talentino of Monroe for transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Talentino is accused of transporting a minor from Monroe to West Virginia with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with the minor.

He was convicted for raping a child in Massachusetts in 1997 and sentenced to four years in prison, officials say.

“This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them. As today’s arrest shows, we will use every tool available to law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who allegedly sexually exploit children," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said.

According to the complaint unsealed in White Plains federal court, from in or about June 22, 2018, to June 25, 2018, Talentino transported a 16-year-old minor from Monroe to West Virginia, where he engaged and attempted to engage in illegal sexual activity with a minor.

In February 2019, Talention was arrested and charged in Orange County with unauthorized practice of a profession.

A joint investigation with Orange County Child Protective Services and Orange County Fraud revealed that Margaret Patterson, 79, of Lake Peekskill, using the name Charlene Paterson, a licensed Master of Social Work, was aiding and abetting Talentino who was claiming to be a Psychologist and/or Psychiatrist with a Ph.D. but really treating patients without a license, police say.

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“As alleged, Talentino sexually abused a minor child, one who had been entrusted to his care, in the most horrifying way imaginable," FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said. "While today's arrest certainly isn't his first run-in with the law, it is the first time he's been charged with a federal crime – one that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. There's no excuse for this type of behavior. The FBI is asking victims in this and all cases to come forward with information that could help put child sexual predators behind bars. The number to call is 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

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