Male nanny sentenced to 707 years for molesting, filming 17 children in his care in California

A male nanny in California has been sentenced to 707 years and eight months in prison for sexually assaulting 16 boys while on the job and showing a 17th boy child pornography with the intent of sexually assaulting him. His victims ranged in age from two to 12 years old. The Office of the District Attorney for Orange County said many of the assaults were filmed.

Matthew Zakrzewski, 34, was charged with 34 felony counts, 27 of which were lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14. The remaining seven included two felony counts of oral copulation of a child under the age of 10, one felony count of possession of child pornography, one felony count of using a minor for sex acts, two felony counts of distributing pornography to a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct, and one felony count of attempted lewd or lascivious act with a minor under the age of 14.

Detectives with the Laguna Beach Police Department first detained Zakrzewski on May 17, 2019, in a local airport as he deplaned an international flight following an investigation launched after allegations from local parents that he had touched their son inappropriately.

In a press release, the office of Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer explained that Zakrzewski had originally been charged with a fraction of the aforementioned offenses, however as the investigation progressed, more and more victims were discovered, and more counts were added.

Zakrzewski advertised his services on a number of websites, one of which was called "Sitter Buddy." In his profile, he described himself as "a fun-loving energetic person that will engage your child as well as care for them."

"In the 8th grade I discovered what a joy it was to work with children and be a positive impact in their lives through my school's 'Buddy Program'," he wrote. "Now, I am a full-service TrustLine Certified provider of regular & on-demand child care, as well as mentoring services for children.

"I think the reason I connect easily with kids," he added, "is because I am not just there to supervise, I participate!"

A jury found him guilty on all 34 counts.

"This is a case of shattered innocence and precious childhoods that were robbed from 17 little boys," 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 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."