Rochester man arrested for child sex abuse

Posted at: 10/11/2012 12:06 PM | Updated at: 10/11/2012 12:16 PM
By: Nikki Rudd | WHEC.com

Years and years of sexual abuse. Prosecutors say three children are now safe with a Rochester man behind bars.

It all started with a child telling someone about the abuse at school. Now 40-year-old John Knowlton is being held in the Monroe County Jail without bail. He’s facing 16 charges including predatory sex assault against a child.

Assistant District Attorney Kyle Rossi says Knowlton sexually abused three children for years. He says those victims are now 10, 12 and 18-years-old.

News10NBC found out there have been allegations of sex abuse by Knowlton in the past. It was even investigated, but he was never prosecuted until now.

Kyle Rossi, Assistant District Attorney, said, “Just reading the allegations, the period of time that’s involved the nature of the acts, if these prove to be true, it’s almost unimaginable that someone would do this, that children are forced to live in this way.”

Four orders of protection were issued in court Thursday. Rossi says the fourth child was not sexually abused. The prosecution also said Knowlton recently tried to get family members to ask the victims to change their stories. He is due back in court December 20.

To read the court paper work, click here.

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