Suffolk County Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Elderly Women

April 30, 2024

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY—Derrick Clancy, 43, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges including burglary, sexual abuse, and assault, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. The guilty plea pertains to incidents involving the break-ins and attacks on two elderly women in their Mastic Beach homes.

The first attack occurred on October 10, 2023, where Clancy entered the home of a woman over 70 by cutting a hole in the window screen. During this incident, he physically and sexually abused the woman, claiming to possess a knife. The victim activated her medical alert system, prompting Clancy to flee.

A week later, on October 17, Clancy attacked another elderly woman, entering her home through a closet window. After the attack, this victim immediately contacted 911. Both victims received medical treatment for their injuries at a local hospital.

Clancy was apprehended on October 21, 2023, following a collaborative investigation involving Suffolk County Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other agencies. Evidence including a mask and a knife was recovered.

On April 30, 2024, Clancy admitted to his crimes before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis. His sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2024, where he faces 22 years to life in prison. His legal representation is provided by Christopher Brocato, Esq.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.