PENN YAN, NY – A Yates County sheriff’s investigator who failed to act on a teenage girl’s rape allegations and later faced minimal discipline is drawing renewed scrutiny after the victim was returned home and abused again, according to an investigation by New York Focus in partnership with The New York Times.
The case began in May 2023, when a 13-year-old girl told police her adoptive father had been raping her since 2021. She was removed from the home, and the case was assigned to Investigator Megan Morehouse of the Yates County Sheriff’s Office.
District Attorney Todd Casella said Morehouse doubted the girl’s account and ignored key investigative steps — including obtaining search warrants for the suspect’s phone and home.
“What she didn’t do is the very essence of what it is to be a police officer,” Casella said.
Teen returned home, abuse continued
Two months later, Child Protective Services sent the teen back to her adoptive father’s home, where court records show she was mocked, called a liar, and again sexually assaulted.
In November 2023, after the teen reported new assaults, Casella asked the New York State Police to take over the case. The father was later charged with abusing the teen and two foster children. He pleaded guilty in September to a felony sexual assault charge involving a child.
Casella filed a complaint seeking Morehouse’s dismissal, citing serious investigative failures. But newly elected Sheriff Frank Ryan issued only a reprimand, requiring her to reread a five-page department policy and warning her to consider her “reputation.”
Casella called the outcome a “tragedy,” saying, “A child discloses abuse and is put back in the home and subjected to more abuse.”
Uneven police discipline statewide
The case highlights how discipline for police misconduct in New York varies widely among departments, particularly in small counties that lack uniform standards.
A review of more than 10,000 disciplinary records by New York Focus and The New York Times found that officers in similar cases often faced different consequences — from termination to brief suspensions.
While some officers in other counties lost their jobs for misconduct involving victims, others were only suspended for days and kept their positions.
Unlike at least 17 other states, New York does not track police discipline statewide. Agencies are not required to publicly report officer suspensions or demotions, and most small departments keep internal records out of public view.
Lack of oversight fuels inconsistency
The 2020 repeal of a state confidentiality law opened many police discipline records to public access, but enforcement remains inconsistent across hundreds of local agencies.
In Yates County, Morehouse continues to work in law enforcement. Casella maintains that her mishandling of the teen’s case shows why New York needs stronger oversight and uniform accountability measures.
Key Points
- Yates County investigator failed to properly investigate teen’s rape allegations; victim was later abused again
- Investigator received only a written reprimand despite DA’s call for dismissal
- Report highlights lack of statewide standards for police discipline in New York
