13 Months Later, Rusty Torres Case Still Lingers in Court

Rosendo "Rusty" Torres appeared for yet another routine court appearance Wednesday, 13 months after the Oyster Bay town employee was accused of molesting an 8-year-old girl in Plainview on two occasions.

As his shocking case continues through Nassau County Court without any major new developments, town spokesman said the former New York Yankee and town's baseball ambassador quietly "retired" a year ago. He remains free on $50,000 bail.

"Rusty retired from the Town of Oyster Bay in June 2012," said Brian Devine, a town spokesman, in an emailed response to the question of Torres' status with the town.

"While the town no longer runs that clinic, there is baseball and softball skills instruction available to participants of the Summer Recreation Program," Devine wrote in the statement. 

The town did not immediately respond to a follow-up question whether Torres was receiving benefits as a result of his retirement. Torres was immediately suspended from his coaching role following the May, 2012 allegations of sexual abuse.

Also not clear is whether the town replaced Torres' position with a new coach for its Summer Recreation Program.

Torres' full-time position paid $83,000 annually. His role involved indoor coaching sessions during the winter months, including in Plainview. His was the only such coaching position in any sport on the town payroll, the town said last year. 

Torres was originally charged in connection with two separate incidents of sex abuse involving the 8-year-old girl that occurred in Plainview, once on April 30 and again on May 7, 2012, police said.

Torres, who played parts of two seasons during the 1970s with the Yankees, told arresting officers he was "sorry" for the incidents and "stopped himself" before further damage was done to his victim, court documents revealed.

Torres' lawyer, Scott Carrigan of Garden City, has denied the charges. Torres remains free on bail at his home in North Massapequa.

A spokesman for the District Attorney's Office said that Torres made his routine appearance Wednesday, known as a "conference," where lawyers from both sides discuss the case and weigh their options. The case was adjourned to another conference set for June 28, the D.A. spokesman said.