A man charged with indecency with a child, possession of child pornography and continuous sexual abuse of a child has returned home to College Station, and some residents are concerned about him living in their neighborhood.
Benjamin Roberts, 25, worked at a church daycare in Abilene when he was arrested in March. He was back in federal custody on Tuesday.
A police investigation revealed cases of improper touching with several children. He was also linked to a child pornography ring. Roberts admitted to downloading child pornography and having sexual thoughts about the children he worked with at the church daycare.
On Wednesday, a judge reduced his bail from $350,000 to $100,000 and sent him home to live with his parents in College Station.
The home sits just one block from two public parks and four blocks from an elementary school.
Neighbors don’t like the idea of Roberts’ return.
“He shouldn’t be by the schoolhouse. That’s a bad reputation right there. He shouldn’t even have a bond,” resident Michael Johnson said.
Authorities said they took quick actions to protect the victims.
"These aren’t numbers, these are kids. Remember that these are kids,” an Abilene police spokesman said.
Neighbors didn’t want to go on camera to talk about the Roberts family, but one resident said she did feel a little nervous about having an accused child molester living just down the street.
"I think I’d be mean-mugging him all day,” Johnson said.
It is not known how long it will take for this case to come to trial. Roberts will remain in his parent’s home and wear a monitoring bracelet.
He will also have to report to a probation officer and stay away from computers and phones, except to talk to his family. The judge will also allow him to attend church.
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