Sami Ishaq A 74-year-old registered sex offender, whose wife owns a local delicatessen in Massapequa Park, was arrested Dec. 10 by Nassau County Police who charged him with a criminal sexual act, having sex with a minor, and endangering the welfare of a child. Sami Ishaq, a registered level one, or low risk, offender who was convicted in Suffolk County, is charged by Nassau Police with having sexual contact with a 16-year-old boy Dec. 5 in Massapequa. Police from the Nassau County Crime Victim's Unit declined to identify the victim, and the location at which the incident took place, though the police did say it occurred at a business in Massapequa Park.

Ishaq's wife Hilda is the owner of Park Deli at 400 Park Blvd., in Massapequa Park, just south of Sunrise Highway. An attorney representing the deli said that Sami Ishaq no longer works at the deli and had only been a part-time employee there.

Frank Panetta, a Garden City attorney representing Ishaq, said he could not comment on his client's case except to say that the allegations are false and that evidence of that will be presented as the case proceeds through the courts. "I expect the charges to be dropped," he said.

Meanwhile, the case had drawn the interest of several locals who contacted the Massapequa Post newspaper to express their concern.

"I was a customer there up until I heard about this," said a local man who did not want his name used. "I know for a fact that many of our kids go in there...we should boycott the business and get these people out of Massapequa Park."

Hilda Ishaq, however, says all of the accusations are false, and that she has divorced her husband. She maintains that the allegations were made by a "local troublemaker."

Ishaq's address is listed with police as 929 S. 4th Street, Lindenhurst. His wife said that he does not live there, however, and does not know where he is.

Under New York State Law, Level 1 offenders are required to register for a minimum of 20 years, but their names are not listed on the registry's website. Higher-risk Level 2 and 3 offenders are publicly listed.