Wappinger Man Charged With Rape

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of Kawliga B. Shapiro, age 42 of the Town of Wappinger, in connection with a recent sexual assault investigation.

Mr. Shapiro was arrested by Sheriff’s Office Detectives on 8/8/23 after an approximate year-long investigation, and at this time he is charged with having sexual intercourse with someone who is unable to consent on at least two occasions in 2022. At this time no further information will be released in order to protect the victim’s privacy and safeguard future court proceedings, and these alleged incidents are not thought to be random acts.

At this time Mr. Shapiro has been charged with two counts each of Rape in the 2nd degree, Incest in the 2nd degree, and Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person in the 1st degree (all felonies). At the time of his arrest, Mr. Shapiro had already been incarcerated at the Dutchess County Jail on unrelated charges, and he remains there at this time.

If anyone has any information about this case or similar incidents involving Mr. Shapiro, they are urged to contact Detective Meyer at 845-496-3778 or dmmeyer@dutchessny.gov, or Detective Gerardi at 845-486-3835 or pgerardi@dutchessny.gov. Information can also be supplied through the Sheriff’s Office tipline at 845-605-2583 or dcsotips@gmail.com, and all information will be kept confidential.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by the Dutchess County Department of Probation and Community Corrections, as well as the New York State Police. As with any criminal case, the charges described above are merely accusations, and Mr. Shapiro is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.