In a case that shook the community, Matthew Zakrzewski, a 34-year-old male nanny from California, received a sentencing of over 700 years in prison on Friday for his appalling acts of sexual assault against minors. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office disclosed that Zakrzewski was found guilty on 34 felony counts, including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14. His heinous crimes involved molesting 16 young boys entrusted to his care and exposing pornography to a 17th victim. These despicable actions unfolded over a span of more than three years, from January 2014 to May 2019, impacting children as young as 2 years old to those aged 12.
Addressing the court before his fate was sealed by Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Menninger, Zakrzewski shockingly expressed that he took pride in bringing joy to the children he assaulted, claiming the shared moments were genuinely positive—a disturbing and callous statement given the egregious nature of his crimes.
Zakrzewski had established a presence through his website, self-identifying as “the original Sitter Buddy,” promoting various services, including babysitting, mentorships, overnight stays, and vacation childcare. However, behind this facade lurked a predator who violated the trust placed in him by families seeking childcare assistance.
The emotional aftermath reverberated throughout the affected families and the wider community. Some parents voiced their anguish and guilt, feeling responsible for unknowingly allowing such a “monster” into their lives. They lamented their decision to hire Zakrzewski, with one mother expressing enduring remorse for engaging his services just once.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer condemned the case as a loss of innocence and childhood for the 17 children involved. He emphasized the irreparable harm inflicted upon these youngsters, robbed of their rightful and carefree upbringing by a predator masquerading as a savior.
During the trial, prosecutor Juliet Oliver revealed damning evidence against Zakrzewski, including an entire trove of pedophilic material on his computer, along with videotaped evidence corroborating the charges against him.
NEW: Male babysitter Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski has been sentenced to 700+ years in prison for s*xually assaulting 16 boys in California.
Burn in h*ll.
The boys ranged in age from 2-12 years old when Zakrzewski assaulted them.
One mother of a boy who was 2 years old when… pic.twitter.com/9WqI4PdyJX
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 20, 2023
The arrest of Zakrzewski came following a parent’s report to the authorities, detailing inappropriate behavior towards an eight-year-old child. Subsequent investigations by the Laguna Beach Police Department unveiled more victims across Southern California, leading to Zakrzewski’s capture at a local airport as he disembarked from an international flight.
