Suffolk County DA Criticizes Judge’s Decision to Release Kidnapping Suspect

The district attorney of Suffolk County has expressed strong disapproval of a Long Island judge’s choice to grant bail to a man accused of abducting a 4-year-old from a laundromat, despite serious allegations against him.

Carlos Corte, 38, was released on supervised conditions with a GPS monitor after being charged with second-degree kidnapping. Police reported that he allegedly took the girl away from her mother behind the Laundry Kingdom in Patchogue.

Judge James F. Leonnick agreed to the release after Corte’s defense attorney argued that he had taken the child to a library in search of her parents, claiming language difficulties led to misunderstandings about his intentions.

However, prosecutors disagreed, stating that Corte should not have been released. “We respectfully disagree,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney commented. “When you look at the facts of the case, it’s clearly concerning.”

Tierney added that there are circumstances—like existing bench warrants—where a suspect poses a risk. “This is another situation where we must act swiftly to protect our community,” he said.

During the arraignment, Alexandra Dailov, an attorney from Suffolk County Legal Aid, suggested that the kidnapping charge stems from a miscommunication. “Your Honor, my client has had no previous contact with law enforcement. We are requesting her release on her own recognizance,” she said. She reiterated that Corte thought the girl was alone without her parents and says he took her to the library for help, but faced a language barrier.

Tierney challenged the defense’s claims, asking if leaving a child somewhere else wouldn’t be even worse. “Again, these are suspicions,” he noted, emphasizing how serious the situation remained.

Following his arrest, Corte reportedly told police, “I made a mistake when I took that kid out of here.” Tierney stated, “Once you intervene with a child, you become responsible. You can’t just leave them somewhere else.”

The DA’s office asserted that their requests for high bail—ranging from $150,000 to $1.5 million—were justified given the severity of the case and Corte’s existing bench warrant. “Given all the factors, that’s why we requested such a high bail,” Tierney explained.

Corte is expected to return to court on April 16 for an unrelated second charge based on a warrant from Patchogue Village Court.