'Monster Disguised by Smiles and Giggles': Nanny Sentenced to More than 705 Years for Molesting 16 Boys
Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski, 34, was convicted of 34 felonies
A male nanny convicted of sexually abusing 16 boys under his care and showing another child sex abuse material was sentenced to 705 years to life in prison, plus two additional years.
Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski, 34, who worked for multiple families across Southern California, was convicted of 34 felonies, including 27 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Zakrzewski was arrested after deplaning an international flight in 2019, after a couple told Laguna Beach police he had inappropriately touched their son, authorities say.
Through their investigation, police determined that Zakrzewski had abused multiple boys from Jan. 1, 2014 to May 17, 2019. The nanny abused boys between the ages of 2 and 12 and would often film the abuse.
Related: Nanny Convicted of Sexually Abusing 16 Young Boys in His Care: 'Unimaginable Terror'
“This is a case of shattered innocence and precious childhoods that were robbed from 17 little boys,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “These children will never know the people they were truly intended to be — because their childhoods were suddenly and inexplicably interrupted not by a wolf at the door, but by a predator masquerading as godsend.”
“Children are not born knowing how to lie, but this master manipulator taught these very young children to lie — and to keep secrets from their own parents," the statement continued. "The sexual exploitation of children is meant to destroy the smallest of souls and this monster disguised by smiles and giggles engaged in the most horrific and calculated manipulation to ensure he would continue to have unfettered access to what these parents cherish the most — their children."
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Zakrzewski marketed his caretaking services on his website, where he called himself "the original Sitter Buddy" and characterized himself as a "manny." He offered a variety of services including big-brother relationships, mentoring and overnight and vacation babysitting.
During his sentencing, parents of the victims read impact statements, including the mother of a 2-year-old, who said she was heartbroken she would never get to meet who her son should have been had he not been subjected to the trauma of sexual assault, the district attorney’s office said in the press release.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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