A suburban Philadelphia married former youth coach, Boy Scouts leader and active church member wore a heavy coat -- his face covered -- as he left a courtroom after his first hearing on charges that he sexually abused a family member starting when the child was only 13 years old.
Charles Robinson waived his right to a preliminary hearing during a brief hearing in Newtown Square Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, Radnor Township Police Superintendent William Colarulo announced the arrest of the 60-year-old Paoli, Pennsylvania resident. The arrest came after a family member alerted authorities.
"It was learned that the victim, who is a family member, has been sexually molested since the age of 13," said Colarulo.
The abuse lasted at least four years, said Colarulo.
"It progressed to the point where it was basically hellacious and unbearable for our victim," said Colarulo.
In court Thursday morning, a judge dropped one of the charges -- involuntary deviate sexual intercourse -- since Robinson agreed to waive the hearing, sparing the victim from testifying. Robinson, who has no previous history of sex offenses, still faces seven counts including corruption of minors, indecent assault, child endangerment and related offenses, said court records.
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In court, a plea deal was offered in which Robinson would get one to two years in prison, five-years probation and lifetime as a registered sex offender if agreed to plead guilty.
NBC10's Monique Braxton asked Robinson as he left court if he would take the plea deal but Robinson offered no comment before getting into a white pickup truck and leaving. Robinson pushed away cameras and microphones as he got into his pickup, breaking one piece of equipment.
He remains free on $100,000 bail but has agreed to turn in several of his rifles as he awaits his next hearing next month.
Colarulo said the abuse began with massages and progressed to late-night incidents in the victim's bedroom and attempted trips to the shower. Robinson -- a married father with both biological and adopted children -- would "remove the victim's cellphone so that the victim was not able to make contact with anybody else," said Colarulo.
Investigators wanted to make sure there are no more victims.
"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 programs and he was also involved with the Church of the Savior church where he was involved in adoption services with that church.
"If there are any other victims that are holding this in and carrying this around -- it's a terrible burden -- please let us help you," said Colarulo.
Police asked anyone with information on Robinson's conduct or with concerns about Robinson to contact Radnor Police.
A spokesman for the church called the allegations shocking and said that Robinson would no longer be permitted to have any roles with any children's groups.
Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty CEO Daniel Templar expressed the council's support for the victim in this case and said Robinson passed all background checks before volunteering as a leader. Robinson, who no longer is involved with the scouts, won't be allowed to volunteer anymore.
