BALDWINSVILLE, N.Y. — The YMCA of Central New York is facing tough questions after confirming that Ryan Pontello, a registered sex offender now accused of sexually abusing a 5-year-old girl, was a member of its Northwest Family YMCA in Baldwinsville despite daily screenings meant to prevent exactly that.
Pontello, 33, is in jail facing multiple felony charges, including rape and child endangerment. Authorities say he lured a child from a North Syracuse playground into a wooded area using candy. He is a Level 1 sex offender, a designation for those considered at lowest risk of reoffending but one that does not always trigger widespread public notification.
In a letter to families, the YMCA confirmed it immediately and permanently terminated Pontello’s membership upon learning of his arrest. However, officials admitted their system did not flag him beforehand.
The YMCA also stressed that no incidents occurred on YMCA property, but the revelation has alarmed many parents in the Baldwinsville area.
“It’s just disgusting,” said Cathy Cowles, a local parent. It’s Former YMCA employee Sabrina Harris shared similar concerns.
“There are a lot of children that could be at risk,” Harris said. “If they are left alone, they kind of wander behind a group, they wander off.”
Karrie Damm, former Executive Director of the Child Advocacy Center of Oswego County, says this case highlights long-standing concerns about the sex offender system and community awareness.
“It’s always been an issue for me that the community isn’t more aware of who around them is really posing a risk,” Damm said. “Yes, we can try to look things up, but if something seems amiss—it’s okay to put a boundary in place.”
Pontello’s Level 1 status may have contributed to the system failure. The YMCA acknowledged this reality in its statement:
“The painful reality is that we must always remain vigilant—many individuals who seek to cause harm may have no prior record.”
In response, the YMCA outlined several child safety protocols, including enhanced staff training, strict check-in/check-out procedures, emergency preparedness drills, and ongoing evaluations. Still, some community members say more must be done.
“Letting someone in with that type of sexual offender history and background is a little dangerous,” said Kyra Bullock, a neighbor.
The YMCA says it is now reevaluating safety measures across all Central New York locations.
While the investigation into Pontello continues, many families say they are left shaken—but grateful the child in this case was able to escape and get help.
