By Matthew Monks
Michael Costello, a 14-year New York Police Department veteran from Bayside, is charged with prowling an America Online chat room under the screen name Softmouth4U petitioning underage boys for sex, according to the criminal complaint filed Saturday in Queens Criminal Court.Costello is charged with sending at least six instant messages last week to an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old boy, asking for X-rated pictures and begging to have sex with the youth, the complaint said.”I like to do it,” Softmouth4U wrote on March 24, according to the complaint. “My car has tints. We can do it in there.”The 39-year-old was arrested at 7:45 p.m. Friday after he got out of his car near the Starbucks at Queens Boulevard and 67th Road, the complaint said.He was charged with trying to have sex with a child, attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors and attempted endangering the welfare of a child, the complaint said. Costello, who was held on $25,000 bail following his arraignment Saturday in Queens Criminal Court, faces seven years in prison if convicted, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Costello was arrested in an undercover sting that began March 24, when he was charged with sending the first illicit instant message to an internal affairs officer posing as a 14-year-old. Law enforcement officials contacted American Online, which identified Softmouth4U as Costello and told investigators that the youth officer had an account in another name, Youth114. The profiles for the two screen names reveal a chilling dichotomy.Softmouth4U identifies himself as a 30-year-old Italian man from Flushing named Alex. “I like young, thin, smooth and cut,” the profile reads. Youth114 is identified as “Police Officer Mike Costello 114th Precinct Youth Officer.”It posts his direct phone line, the date of the next Explorers meeting and reads: “If you are between 13-18 years old and are interested in joining our year round co-ed law enforcement youth program, please email me with your name, phone number and school and you will be contacted as soon as possible.”The Youth114 profile has a link to the 114th Explorers home page, which said the group has more than 50 members and meets every other Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the precinct. Activities include lessons on the law, barbecues, trips to the beach, pool parties, outings to Mets and Yankees games, and ride-alongs with police if the Explorer is over age 18, the Web page said. Ann Bruno, president of the 114th Precinct Community Council, said she had little contact with Costello, only seeing him at the precinct from time to time. She was at a loss for words over Costello's arrest, saying she was “just stunned. That's all.” Reach reporter Matthew Monks by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
