SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Convicted sex offender Ryan Pontello appeared in Onondaga County Court on Wednesday morning for his new child sex crime case.
The defense and prosecution met again to go over what evidence would be suppressed when Pontello goes to trial in January 2027.
Specifically, the defense is seeking to suppress statements Pontello made to investigators. Judge Matthew Doran scheduled the suppression hearing for Sept. 23.
Pontello is a Level 1 sex offender who faces a 48-count indictment. The indictment includes charges of rape, sexual abuse, possession and production of child porn.
Pontello could face more charges as the investigation into the crimes he’s accused of continues, the prosecution warned. If convicted, Pontello could face 50 years to life in prison.
Pontello was arrested on June 8, 2025, on charges of rape, luring a child, sexual abuse and acting in a manner injurious to children. The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office said Pontello lured a 5-year-old girl with candy from a playground on Bear Road in North Syracuse into a wooded area and committed sex crimes. He was also accused of crimes against a 3-year-old.
Following those charges, he was charged again for more sexual offenses against a 3-year-old toddler on June 19, 2025.
The district attorney’s office said the indictment includes six different victims for sexual crimes committed between 2022 and 2025.
