Cops: Putnam Sex Offender, 14-Year-Old Girl Had 'Consensual' Interactions

A Southeast man who is a registered sex offender is facing a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a minor after an incident with a 14-year-old girl in Mahopac, officials said.

Carmel Police arrested Shawn Waters, 28, at about 8 p.m. Sunday, Chief Mike Johnson said in a statement Monday. Officer Laura Smith and Sgt. Craig D’Andrea responded to a Gleneida Avenue residence in Mahopac after receiving a report of a "possible dispute." 

"Investigation revealed that a male at the scene, who was a registered sex offender, had been touching a 14-year-old female," police said, adding that "the interactions between the suspect and the 14-year-old female were consensual."

Officials say the girl's mother contacted police. They told Patch the girl and the defendant were "friendly," but authorities did not say how they know one another.

The defendant is reportedly a level two sex offender, which suggests a "moderate risk," according to the State's Public Registry of Sex Offenders.

The department's website lists Waters as a resident of Maple Lane, which is in the Peach Lake section of Southeast. It also states that he was convicted in April 2009 of an attempted criminal sexual act in the third degree, a misdemeanor. He served one year in jail, according to the web page.

Waters is now charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, a misdemeanor. He was arraigned before Carmel Town Justice Joseph Spofford and released, pending a Nov. 19 appearance in court.