Victim of suspected predator speaks out

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The victim of a suspected sexual predator is talking Wednesday night. He told Senior Correspondent Rich Newberg about his horrible nightmare, and he isn't the suspect's only victim.

Cheektowaga Police say 70-year-old Dennis Doherty has admitted to molesting three boys, ages 12, 14, and 15. They were boys from families that had trusted him.

"Would volunteer to baby sit and to take these young boys out. He did provide them with money for chores and things like that," said Captain David Zack of the Cheektowaga Police Department.

"He'd buy me alcohol, give me money all the time," said the victim.

This young man, now in his 20's told News 4 he was victimized by Dennis Doherty when he was 16 years old. Doherty had been a friend of the family.

"I would actually pass out and wake up with him doing things to me," the victim said.

The victim's mother said, "It's a real painful experience for a mother to have to go through and hear this. It really is, and I just want to tell mothers, if you see your kid withdrawn, or not wanting to talk about certain things, or, ya know, they're watching something on TV that upsets them, pay attention."

Doherty was first arrested in Tonawanda in 1996 and charged with sodomizing a thirteen year old.

He pleaded to a lesser charge and was given probation.

Cheektowaga Police believe there may be many more of his victims who have kept silent.

Captain Zack said, "The concern is always, are there other victims out there that we're not aware of?"

If you have been victimized, "Tell somebody about it. If they're getting victimized like that, just tell somebody because they don't need to go through that."

The Sex Offender Registry came out just a month before Dennis Doherty's first arrest in 1996.

Had that first arrest happened today, he would likely have been placed on that list, according to D.A. Frank Sedita.

If anyone has any information about other victims of Dennis Doherty, contact Cheektowaga Police at this number: 686-3544.