DARLINGTON - A Benton man was charged Monday with first-degree sexual assault of a child after a series of incidents when he molested an underage girl between May and August.
Robert J. Hoyer Jr., 63, faces a Class B felony charge of first-degree child sexual assault and related charges.
Hoyer was charged after the victim made comments to her mother that insinuated that Hoyer had had some form of sexual contact with her around Aug. 20.
When police met with Hoyer, he initially claimed his actions had been misunderstood but eventually admitted to molesting the victim after a second round of questioning.
Hoyer said he had a previous history of molesting underage girls, having first done so in the late 1960s when he was a teenager. Later, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he admitted to having repeatedly molested two underage girls.
No charges or investigations arose out of these incidents.
Hoyer acknowledged that his behavior was wrong and said he had undergone voluntary sexual behavioral therapy after the incidents in the early 90s.
However, he said, after spending time with the victim, "it" came back. Hoyer said he was once again unable to curb his sexual attraction to young girls.
Hoyer admitted to sexual acts against the victim. Hoyer said he always "felt terrible" after having done so and frequently expressed a desire to commit suicide.
After admitting these things to police, he was arrested and charged.
Hoyer will appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 20. The maximum possible sentence for his charges is 66.5 years in prison.
Robert J. Hoyer Jr., 63, faces a Class B felony charge of first-degree child sexual assault and related charges.
Hoyer was charged after the victim made comments to her mother that insinuated that Hoyer had had some form of sexual contact with her around Aug. 20.
When police met with Hoyer, he initially claimed his actions had been misunderstood but eventually admitted to molesting the victim after a second round of questioning.
Hoyer said he had a previous history of molesting underage girls, having first done so in the late 1960s when he was a teenager. Later, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he admitted to having repeatedly molested two underage girls.
No charges or investigations arose out of these incidents.
Hoyer acknowledged that his behavior was wrong and said he had undergone voluntary sexual behavioral therapy after the incidents in the early 90s.
However, he said, after spending time with the victim, "it" came back. Hoyer said he was once again unable to curb his sexual attraction to young girls.
Hoyer admitted to sexual acts against the victim. Hoyer said he always "felt terrible" after having done so and frequently expressed a desire to commit suicide.
After admitting these things to police, he was arrested and charged.
Hoyer will appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 20. The maximum possible sentence for his charges is 66.5 years in prison.