DELMAR – Maxwell Fasciglione, 28, of the hamlet of Johnsonville in Rensselaer County, was charged on May 14 with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor, after the mother of the 15-year-old victim found disturbing texts messages on the victim’s phone on May 6 and called the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, according to Chief Deputy William M. Rice.

Rice said that because all of Fasciglione’s contact with victim was electronic, it took the sheriff’s office time to track him down.

The sheriff’s investigation found that Fasciglione and the victim met through a personal ad on Craigslist, began communicating, and arranged to meet. Fasciglione picked up the victim from the agreed-upon location in New Scotland, and then drove him to a parking lot in Delmar where the sexual assault took place, Rice said.

Fasciglione was charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sex act, a felony, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.  He was arraigned in Bethlehem Town Court before Justice Ryan Donovan and sent to Albany County’s jail in lieu of $40,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing will take place on Thursday, May 17, in Bethlehem Town Court.