A Liberty Township man has been charged with performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor and dissemination of matter harmful to minors in connection with an incident earlier this month.

Jackie W. Robson, 44, of 8 Canterbury Circle is being held without bond on those charges pending his arraignment. Both counts are Class D felonies, punishable by a term of six months to three years.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Det. Sgt. William Young of the Porter County Sheriff’s Police, on July 9 a mother reported that the previous evening her two daughters had spent the night at the 8 Canterbury Circle address, where Robson is staying. At some point, one of the girls informed her mother on returning home, Robson and she had watched pornography on a laptop computer together and he had fondled himself through his clothing.

In an interview, Young stated in his affidavit, the girl advised that Robson had never touched her but that she had found some of the material on the computer “scary.”

Robson initially denied the accusation in an interview on Monday, Young further stated, but then later admitted that he had sat on the living room couch and “allowed” the girl to watch pornography for approximately 20 to 30 minutes while he fondled himself.

Posted 7/17/2008