Nanny Convicted of Sexually Abusing 16 Young Boys in His Care: 'Unimaginable Terror'

Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski, who worked for families across Southern California, was arrested in May 2019

Content warning: This story contains disturbing details.

A former nanny has been convicted of sexually abusing 16 young boys in his care and showing a 17th boy child sexual abuse images.

Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski, who worked for families across Southern California, was arrested in May 2019 and later charged with 34 felonies including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. On Tuesday, a jury convicted the 34-year-old from Costa Mesa, Calif., on all counts.

After a couple told the Laguna Beach Police Department that Zakrzewski had touched their 8-year-old son inappropriately, detectives arrested him on May 17, 2019, at a local airport after he deplaned after an international flight.

Zakrzewski was initially 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," the district attorney's office said. He was also charged with one felony count of possession of child pornography.

As the investigation proceeded, more victims were identified through video evidence and tips from the public, leading to additional charges being filed against Zakrzewski. The crimes were committed between January 1, 2014, and May 17, 2019. Zakrzewski filmed many of the sexual assaults against the children, who ranged in age from 2 to 12.

"These young boys were forced to endure unimaginable terror as a result of the ultimate betrayal by a babysitter,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “These parents thought they were hiring a trusted caregiver for their children while they went on family vacations, date nights, and for other childcare needs; instead they were unknowingly letting a monster walk into their homes and prey upon their innocent children in the vilest way."

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Spitzer praised the victims for their courage to speak out against Zakrzewski at trial.

"I am incredibly proud of the young victims who bravely took the stand to testify against their abuser, the parents who were by their side every step of the way, and the parents who testified themselves," Spitzer continued.

"By standing up to this predator and telling the truth about what he did, they are ensuring that the voices of the victims of sexual assault are being heard while they are protecting other children from being victimized.”

Zakrzewski marketed his caretaking services on his website, where he called himself "the original Sitter Buddy" and characterized his role as a "manny." He offered a variety of services including big-brother relationships, mentoring and overnight and vacation babysitting.

"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,” Zakrzewski wrote to prospective clients on his website. “Now, I am a full-service TrustLine Certified provider of regular and on-demand childcare, as well as mentoring services for children.”

Zakrzewski's sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17. He faces 690 years to life plus eight years.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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