Plea deal offered to Chester County man charged with child sex abuse
RADNOR, Pa. (WPVI) -- A plea deal has been offered to a Chester County man who is charged with sexually abusing a family member for several years.
Action News was there Thursday morning as Charles Robinson of Paoli, Pa. arrived for a preliminary hearing in Newtown Square. He was in no mood to answer questions about allegations that he sexually abused a family member over a period of several years. At one point, he struck out at a photographer's camera.
Robinson was arrested on New Year's Eve, his 60th birthday, Radnor police announced Wednesday.
Robinson faces a long list of charges. However, one of those charges, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, has been dropped.
Delaware County Deputy District Attorney Michael Galantino on Thursday morning explained, "Defendant Charles Robinson waived his right to a preliminary hearing a few minutes ago on seven of the eight counts. The Commonwealth agreed to withdraw one of the counts, which was a criminal attempt charge to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse - essentially something he tried to do but didn't succeed. We were comfortable withdrawing that charge."
The prosecution says it was comfortable because the alleged victim, who was prepared to testify, would not have to.
The prosecution also offered a deal to Robinson. If he pleads guilty to the remaining counts he would serve his sentence in a local jail, not a state prison.
Galantino says, "The plea offer that I've made is one to two years in jail, followed by five years consecutive probation and a lifetime registration under Megan's Law."
Police say between 2010 and 2014 he repeatedly molested a young family member whose gender they did not reveal.
Recently, the victim came forward to tell investigators what happened starting at around age 13.
"For a number of years, the victim lived in turmoil because this is one heck of a thing to carry around with you. Finally, it came to the forefront, suffice it to say, Mr. Robinson knows he's in trouble," Radnor Township Police Superintendent William Colarulo said.
Investigators say Robinson groomed the victim, first by giving massages and progressing to sex acts.
"It got progressively worse to the point where the defendant, Mr. Robinson, tried to get in the shower with the victim, tried to get in bed with the victim, and progressed to the point that it was unbearable and hellacious for our victim," Colarulo said.
Action News has learned Robinson lives with wife and has adopted and biological children.
At Robinson's home on Gable Road on Wednesday afternoon, a teenage boy answered the door and said Robinson would be home later.
Neighbors said the family moved into the house just a few weeks ago.
Police want to know if Robinson victimized any others because of his affiliations with church and youth groups.
"Mr. Robinson had an affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America as well as various youth groups where he was a coach, basketball coach, involved in a lot of programs," Colarulo said.
Police could not say what programs exactly or where.
They did say he was involved with adoption services at Church of the Savior in Wayne. They have been notified.
Robinson remains free on bail, but the terms of bail were altered Thursday. Prosecutors say Robinson has a significant number of guns - both handguns and rifles. Under the modified agreement he will have to turn over those weapons to police or sell them.
