A California “manny” was sentenced to 707 years in prison on Friday after he sexually assaulted 16 young boys, ranging from two to 12 years old.
Matthew Zakrzewski, 34, was found guilty of 34 felony counts including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14 after he molested the 16 children and showed pornography to a 17th, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.
Zakrzewski committed the horrific acts between January 2014 and May 2019. His crimes first became known when a concerned Laguna Beach couple reported that the paedophile touched their eight-year-old inappropriately.
The couple had hired the predator through one of his several babysitting websites. After an investigation was launched authorities uncovered cases involving boys across southern California.
He called himself “the original Sitter Buddy” on one website where he offered mentoring services and babysitting services including overnight stays.
Zakrzewski stated on the Sitter Buddy website: “In the eighth 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.
“Now, I am a full-service TrustLine Certified provider of regular and on-demand childcare, as well as mentoring services for children.”
The predator was originally charged with three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14 and one felony count of oral copulation of a child under the age of 10. He was also charged with one felony count of possession of child pornography.
As additional victims were identified using video and tips from the public, Zakrzewski was ultimately charged with 34 felony counts, including 27 felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14. He was convicted of all 34 felony counts.
In a statement to the court, Zakrzewski didn’t apologize. He said: “I prided myself on bringing smiles to your children and all the good times we shared were 100 percent genuine.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said of Zakrzewski: “This is a case of shattered innocence and precious childhoods that were robbed from 17 little boys. 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 a godsend.”
He added: “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.”
