A California man found guilty of molesting 16 boys was sentenced to 707 years in prison last week. During the sentencing, he said he “prided himself” in bringing smiles to the faces of the boys he assaulted.
Matthew Zakrzewski, 34, was charged with 34 felony counts, including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14. He was also charged for showing a 17th boy pornography. Zakrzewski committed the acts while working as a nanny, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office shared.
The district attorney’s office shared that Zakrzewski filmed many of the sexual assaults on the young boys placed in his care, whose ages ranged from two to 12 years old.
Zakrzewski was arrested in May 2019 by the Laguna Beach Police Department after they deplaned an international flight that he was on. Initially, the Costa Mesa resident was charged with three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14 and one felony count of oral copulation of a child under the age of 10.
However, after an investigation led police to seek out more potential victims, more were identified with video evidence and tips from the public. This resulted in the charges against the male nanny increasing.
On his website, Zakrzewski dubbed himself “the original Sitter Buddy” and called himself a “manny” who could provide big brother relationships, mentorships, and babysitting services.
“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.”
Parents of the victimized boys expressed their outrage at Zakrzewski for deceiving them and harming their children. They continued, blaming themselves for letting Zakrzewski, who they called an “animal” into their home.
One mother, whose son was 2 years old when Zakrzewski molested him, said she would never get to meet who her son would have been because of Zakrzewski’s actions.
When he spoke to the court, Zakrzewski refused to apologize to the victims.
“I prided myself on bringing smiles to your children, and all the good times we shared were 100 percent genuine,” he said as parents covered their ears and wept while he was speaking.
The crimes took place from Jan. 1, 2014, to May 17, 2019.
While Zakrzewski will now spend the rest of his life in prison for his actions, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said that his actions have lifelong consequences for more than just himself.
“This is a case of shattered innocence and precious childhoods that were robbed from 17 little boys. These children will never know the people they were truly intended to be – because their childhoods were suddenly and inexplicably interrupted not by a wolf at the door, but by a predator masquerading as godsend,” Spitzer said.