Man accused of sexually assaulting child at girlfriend’s unlicensed day care

Green Island woman also faces charges, Albany sheriff says

A 49-year-old man is charged with sexually assaulting a young girl at the unlicensed day care business of his girlfriend, who was subsequently charged with child endangerment for failing to report the attacks to authorities, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said Wednesday.

John J. Ferrara is accused of committing crimes against the child “over a course of time” while the child was being cared for by Anna M. Pratt, 50, Apple said. Pratt, he said, ran a private day care in her Green Island apartment where the child stayed. Pratt was charged with child endangerment for allegedly failing to disclose the situation to authorities.

The investigation began three weeks ago when the child’s parents contacted police, the sheriff said.

Apple said that while his department investigated the incident, investigators learned Ferrara also physically assaulted another child at the day care.

“It was an unlicensed day care that had up to seven kids,” Apple said.

The children were less than 10 years old, with some of them younger than 5 years old, the sheriff said. Albany County Child Protective Services and the Albany County district attorney’s office have been informed of the developing case.

Ferrara was charged with two felony counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, one count of misdemeanor assault, and two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Pratt allegedly diverted the attention of the child’s sibling so he would not see what was happening, Apple said.

The investigation of the case is continuing, Apple said. Investigators will determine if additional charges will be filed against either of the defendants.

It was unclear if either Ferrara or Pratt had a lawyer. Ferrara was arraigned in Green Island Town Court and sent to jail without bail. Pratt was arraigned on the misdemeanor charge and released on her own recognizance.