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Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt is pictured in May during a press conference in Mayville with various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. All of them played a role in an indictment against Dustin Post. Photo by Grégory Bacon
A mother’s worst nightmare began with innocent, laid-back conversations late at night at a North County facility. During these talks, she and a niece got to know Dustin Post. Several evenings, the group “Just hang out … and joke.” “
This relationship, however, turned into days and months to include more individuals, especially a young girl. “My kids and I started inviting him to different parks to play basketball and go swimming,” she said. “So we started talking about being a couple and getting together. I trusted him.
Post, 25, is now one of Chautauqua County’s most notorious and disturbing criminals of recent years. The former Fredonia and Silver Creek resident has previously pleaded guilty to producing and possessing child pornography. On these counts alone, he faces a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison.
Additionally, in late May, County District Attorney Jason Schmidt unsealed a 24-count indictment against Post that included 11 separate crimes of predatory sexual assault against a child, nine separate crimes of sexual act. first degree criminal and first degree rape.
According to Schmidt, the crimes described were allegedly committed against several children between the ages of one and 12 in northern Chautauqua County.
Dustin Post is pictured in a photo released after an indictment of 24 counts was unsealed in late May.
They cover the period between September 2015 and August 2019.
“Where there is evidence of a crime, my office will fight for the victims of these crimes”, Schmidt said at a May 26 press conference in Mayville. “No segment of our community is more valuable to us and more vulnerable to those who prey on the weak than children. As a society, we have a responsibility to protect our children who are often helpless and most at risk of abuse. “
Post, according to the mother who is not identified by The Post-Journal and OBSERVER, appears to thrive on building relationships between those who have connections to young women. In this case, he offered the woman an invitation for her daughter to attend a birthday party that would be hosted at a family residence.
“I did not think about it” said the mother, who has come forward hoping to share her story so that other parents and families can learn how those who prey on young people do so with blatant and evil contempt. “My daughter was fine. She was comfortable.
It was at this alleged party that the incident took place.
A week later, a frantic mother and a friend of hers found inappropriate photos on a phone. The mother immediately brought up the incident with her young daughter.
Reluctantly, the under-10-year-old told her mother of the sordid details, including being assaulted while she was blindfolded and filmed. “I was in shock at the time, so I started screaming” said the mother.
Their next step was one of the most important: reaching out to law enforcement. “(The girl) told the state police what had happened in detail,” said the mom. “I identified (Post) soldiers in the car on the computer. “
Perhaps the admission and courage of a young girl was a huge break in this dastardly affair. Tracy Brunecz, the county’s first deputy district attorney, noted the pain and stigma that accompany these incidents.
“Sexual assault against children is among the least reported crimes and the most difficult cases to prosecute due to the pain and trauma suffered by victims and their families – before, during and after the legal process”, she said. “However, these cases are also some of the most rewarding to pursue because, despite this pain and trauma, you see these same victims and families gathering strength and eventual healing because they have had the courage to speak out and speak out. ‘face their attacker. “
But no matter how brave he was, the victim was marked. She and her mother are currently undergoing trauma counseling and are assisted by the Chautauqua County Child Advocacy Program, which helps with cases of youth abuse.
“She understood that (Post) was going for life”, said the mother. “All she said was she never wants to see him again. … Even now, when she tries to block him… she says she doesn’t want to talk. She tries to forget.
It is a horrific reality for this mother and child and for others who have been victims of the mail. For now, however, this mom knows how important it was for her daughter to come forward.
“I will be by his side every step of the way. She’s the bravest little girl I know “, she said. “I am so proud of her for what she has done. … She’s still going strong.
As for Post, he will know his prison sentence upon conviction in federal court which is set for October 1.
Gregory Bacon of OBSERVER and The Post-Journal contributed to this story.
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