Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 27-year-old Nicholas D. D’Angelo of Niagara Falls was arraigned this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Richard C. Kloch, Sr. on a 12-count indictment charging him with the following offenses:

• One count of Rape in the First Degree, a Class “B” felony
• Two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, Class “B” felonies
• One count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class “D” felony
• Two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, Class “E” felonies
• Two counts of Rape in the Third Degree, Class “E” felonies
• One count of Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor
• Three counts of Patronizing a Person for Prostitution in the Third Degree, Class “A” misdemeanors

The defendant was indicted by a Niagara County grand jury. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office was appointed as a special prosecutor after the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office recused themselves from the case.

It is alleged that in the fall of 2016, the defendant met the victim through an online dating website and picked her up at her residence for an arranged date. The defendant is accused of pulling over at an unknown location in the City of Niagara Falls and restraining the victim by locking the doors to his vehicle. It is further alleged that the defendant engaged in sexual intercourse and sexual conduct with the victim by forcible compulsion inside his vehicle.

It is alleged that on October 26, 2018, the defendant subjected a second female victim to sexual contact by forcible compulsion inside his law office in the City of Lockport.

The defendant is accused of patronizing a third female victim for prostitution. It is alleged that on three separate occasions between August 28, 2019 and October 7, 2019, the defendant engaged in sexual conduct and sexual intercourse with the victim at a location in the City of North Tonawanda and at the defendant’s law office in the City of Niagara Falls. On two of those occasions, the defendant, being 21 years or older, is accused of having sexual intercourse and engaging in sexual conduct with the victim, who at the time was less than 17 years old.

D’Angelo is scheduled to return on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. for a virtual pre-trial conference. The defendant was released on his own recognizance.

If convicted on all charges, D’Angelo faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends Detective Brian Schell of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police for their work in the investigation.  

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Lynette M. Reda of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.