A 34-year-old male nanny – or "manny" as he called himself – is facing more than 600 years in jail after being convicted of molesting more than a dozen young boys.
Prosecutors say Matthew Zakrzewski abused 16 young boys under his care and showed a 17th boy child pornography with the intent to sexually assault him. He also filmed many of the sexual assaults on the victims, who ranged in age from 2 to 12 years old, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
"These young boys were forced to endure unimaginable terror as a result of the ultimate betrayal by a babysitter," 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."
Zakrzewski co-founded the California-based website "Sitter Buddy," where he described himself as "a career manny" experienced in working with special needs children. Prosecutors say he offered a variety of babysitting services, including mentorships, big brother relationships and offering 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 stated on the Sitter Buddy website. "Now, I am a full-service TrustLine Certified provider of regular and on-demand childcare, as well as mentoring services for children."
Prosecutors say the crimes were committed between January 2014 and May 2019. The investigation unfolded in early May 2019 when a Laguna Beach couple reported to police that their babysitter, Zakrzewski, had touched their 8-year-old son inappropriately and was concerned for the safety of their son and potentially other children.
The couple told police they had hired Zakrzewski through one of his several babysitting websites. An investigation led to the identification of a second 7-year-old victim in Los Angeles, and 10 more boys from across Southern California, prosecutors said.
Zakrzewski was arrested in May 2019 by Laguna Beach police at an airport after deplaning an international flight. He was originally charged with three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14, one felony count of oral copulation of a child under the age of 10, and one felony count of possession of child pornography.
After initial criminal charges were filed, investigators asked for the public's help in locating any other potential victims. As the investigation progressed, additional victims were identified through video evidence and tips from the public, resulting in additional charges being filed.
Zakrzewski was ultimately charged with a total of 34 felony counts, including 27 felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14, two felony counts of oral copulation of a child under the age of 10, and one felony count of possession of child pornography. He also faces one felony count of using a minor for sex acts, two felony counts of distributing pornography to a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct, and one felony count of an attempted lewd or lascivious act with a minor under the age of 14.
A jury convicted Zakrzewski of all 34 felonies. He faces up to 690 years in prison. Sentencing is set for November 17, 2023.