West Carthage Man Indicted for Sexual Contact with Child

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ONEIDA COUNTY, NY – A West Carthage man has been indicted by the Oneida County Grand Jury for allegedly having sexual contact with a child less than eleven years old, according to Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O'Meara, who is the Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center.

The investigation began on February 26, 2024, when the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division received a report accusing Robert Houghton, age 53 at the time, of subjecting a female child to sexual contact. Due to the nature of the allegations, the case was transferred to the Child Advocacy Center and assigned to OCSO Sergeant Melissa Bolton.

During the investigation, authorities discovered that Houghton, now 54 and formerly of Boonville, N.Y., allegedly engaged in sexual contact with the child at a residence in Boonville in February 2024. The case was later presented to the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, which brought it before the Grand Jury in October 2024. The Grand Jury returned an indictment, charging Houghton with:

▪︎ 2 Counts of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, a Class A-II Felony

▪︎ 1 Count of Rape in the First Degree, a Class B Felony

▪︎ 1 Count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class B Felony

▪︎ 1 Count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D Felony

As a result of the indictment, a Superior Court Warrant of Arrest was issued for Houghton. On October 7, 2024, Houghton was apprehended at his West Carthage residence by members of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Unit, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the New York State Police.

Houghton was taken into custody and held at the Oneida County Correctional Facility overnight. He was arraigned in Oneida County Court on October 8, 2024, and remanded to the facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. An Order of Protection was issued on behalf of the victim, who has been offered support services through the Child Advocacy Center.