Jay man, 69, charged with sexual assault of 6-year-old boy

FARMINGTON -- A 69-year-old man remains in the Franklin County jail on $50,000 cash bail for allegedly sexually molesting a 6-year old boy he met through the Church of the Nazarene in Jay.

Robert Storer, who lives in a furnished apartment at 745 Franklin Road in Jay, is charged with six counts of Class A gross sexual assault, felony unlawful sexual contact and visual sexual aggression of a child, both felonies; and unlawful sexual touching.

Visual sexual aggression includes exposing one's genitals to a child or having the child expose his or her genitals. Gross sexual assault can include mouth to genital contact or penetration.

During Storer's first court appearance in Farmington District Court Wednesday, Judge John McElwee ordered him held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 worth of real estate. If Storer is able to post bond, he can have no contact with the victim or anyone under the age of 17, can have no use or possession of pornographic material and cannot leave the state.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson said Storer, prior to his arrest Tuesday, told Franklin County's sexual assault investigator Det. David St. Laurent in a recorded interview: "If I had known you were looking for me, I would have left the area."

Storer met the boy through the child's parents who attend the same church. He befriended the family and spent time with the boy alone and through youth activities, St. Laurent said prior to Wednesday's hearing.

Storer, a retired civil servant living on a pension, had a job at Family Fare restaurant on Wilton Road in Farmington where he was a part-time bookkeeper, St. Laurent said.

In 1961, Storer was convicted of indecent exposure and in 2000, was arrested in Alabama on charges of sexual molestation of a child. The charges were dropped and Storer moved out of state. According to Robinson, Storer admitted to St. Laurent he was guilty of the charge.

The recent abuse allegedly occurred five or six times between Sept. 1, 2005 and Sept. 3, 2006. During questioning, Storer admitted there were close to a dozen incidents, authorities said.

"(Storer) admitted to the conduct and provided details that corroborated the victim's testimony," Robinson said.

St. Laurent worked on the case in conjunction with Jay police Officer Richard Caton and they arrested Storer Tuesday afternoon.

Storer told McElwee he wanted to enter a plea of no-contest, which is not an admission of guilt but would subject him to punishment as though he had plead guilty. The judge cautioned him not to incriminate himself and entered "no plea" on his behalf at this time.

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