Upper Hudson Valley Man Accused of Sexually Abusing Teen

Police are hoping for the public’s help after they say an upper Hudson Valley man sexually abused a young teen.

On Oct. 7, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into criminal sex acts after the child reported the alleged acts.

The Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit investigated the alleged incident and arrested 23-year-old Matthew Halstead of the Town of Greenport on Thursday. Halstead was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sex act, a class E Felony.

Halstead engaged in anal sexual conduct and oral sex with a person younger than 17-years-old in the Town of Greenport, police say.

Halstead was arraigned in Hudson City Court and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or bond. He is scheduled to appear in the Town of Greenport Court on Oct. 17.

Anyone with more information on Halstead is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office Senior Investigator Mark Dunspaugh at (518) 828-4316.