Connecticut man arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two children in the early 1980s.

A man from Connecticut has been arrested in connection with allegations of kidnapping and sexually abusing two children more than four decades ago. John Church, 60, of Canton, was taken into custody by the Watertown police following a four-month investigation prompted by allegations of historic sexual abuse dating back to the early 1980s.

The investigation revealed two incidents involving the alleged victims, who were both under the age of six during the summer months of 1982 and 1983 when the incidents reportedly occurred, while Church was a teenager at the time. Specific details surrounding the nature of the allegations and the circumstances of Church’s arrest have not been disclosed by law enforcement officials.

Charges against Church include two counts of first-degree kidnapping. The Waterbury state attorney’s office concluded that the statute of limitations for the sexual assault charges had lapsed, thus leading to the focus on kidnapping charges. Initially, Church’s bond was established at .5 million. However, during his arraignment at Waterbury Superior Court, Judge Corinne Klatt reduced the bond to 0,000 based on a recommendation from the bail commissioner.

Church’s legal representative, Ioannis Kaloidis, who also represents a woman recently accused of holding her stepson captive for over 20 years, expressed skepticism regarding the strength of the evidence against Church in relation to the kidnapping charges. He is contesting the nature of the claims.

Connecticut law stipulates that certain crimes involving sexual abuse, exploitation, or assault against minors must be charged either within 30 years after the victim turns 18 or within five years of the victim reporting the crime, whichever occurs first. Notably, first-degree kidnapping does not have a statute of limitations under Connecticut legislation, allowing law enforcement to pursue these charges despite the prolonged timeframe since the alleged offenses occurred.

As the legal proceedings move forward, the case serves as a reminder of the complex issues surrounding historical allegations of sexual misconduct and the legal frameworks in place to address such serious claims. Further updates are anticipated as the situation develops.