New York

AP NewsBreak: DA: Grand jury probing NY foster care system

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney's office in Riverhead, N.Y., shows Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu. The Suffolk County prosecutor tells the Associated Press that a special grand jury has been empaneled to investigate the foster care system and "all the facts" surrounding the Gonzales-Mugaburu case. Gonzales-Mugaburu was arrested in the winter of 2016 and charged with victimizing multiple children in Ridge, N.Y. (Suffolk County District Attorney's Office via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this June 30, 2011, file photo, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas J. Spota speaks at news conference in Riverhead, N.Y. Spota told The Associated Press the grand jury has been meeting since mid-August 2016 to investigate the foster care system and "all the facts" surrounding the Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu case. Gonzales-Mugaburu was arrested in the winter of 2016 and charged with victimizing multiple children in Ridge, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek, File) (The Associated Press)

A prosecutor says a special grand jury has been empaneled to investigate New York's foster care system. This follows the arrest of a Long Island man accused of sexually abusing foster children.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota (Sp-OH-tah) tells The Associated Press the grand jury has been meeting since Aug. 17.

The grand jury is looking into "all the facts" surrounding the Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu (Gon-ZAH'leyz Moo-gah-BOO'-roo) case. That includes additional possible crimes by the defendant.

The Ridge, New York, man was arrested last winter on charges he sexually abused seven children in his home on Long Island. He has pleaded not guilty.

Authorities say he provided foster care for dozens of boys over two decades.

Spota says "multiple agencies" are being examined in the grand jury probe.