Greenport man charged with sex abuse, forcible touching

A Greenport man arrested last month has been arraigned on charges of sex abuse and forcible touching, according to court documents that provide new details on the case. 

Brian Shelby, 59, was collared by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department at a Main Street residence across from First Baptist Church as part of a search warrant investigation on Dec. 22, The Suffolk Times previously reported.

Mr. Shelby pleaded not guilty Dec. 23 to the forcible touching charge related to an alleged incident on Nov. 16. His next court date for that charge is set for Jan. 7 at Suffolk County District Court in Central Islip.

Court records show Mr. Shelby’s arrest was additionally tied to a separate alleged incident of sex abuse and forcible touching on June 13, 2025. The arraignment for those charges is slated for Thursday, Jan. 8, at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead. 

Roger Rothman, defense attorney for Mr. Shelby, declined to comment on the pending litigation when reached by The Suffolk Times. 

The MTAPD and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

The investigation is under the MTAPD’s purview, which includes the Long Island Railroad, Metro-North, Staten Island Railway and select New York City subway stations throughout the mass transit system. They are the lead investigative agency in the case. 

Southold Police Chief Steven Grattan confirmed his department was not the lead agency.

“[The MTAPD] investigated it in its entirety,” Chief Grattan told The Suffolk Times on Tuesday.

First-degree sex abuse is a felony under New York State law. If convicted, Mr. Shelby could face three to seven years in prison. Forcible touching is considered a misdemeanor and can carry a one-year maximum jail sentence upon conviction.