Ashtabula man indicted on child sex abuse charges

Feb. 24--JEFFERSON -- A 71-year-old Ashtabula Township man stands accused of raping an 11-year-old girl while she was temporarily staying in his home.

Larry R. Buckley, 71, of 3053 Blair Ave., was indicted by the county grand jury last week on one first-degree felony count of rape, one third-degree felony count of gross sexual imposition and one fourth-degree felony count of attempted gross sexual imposition.

He was arrested Friday morning and is currently in the Ashtabula County Jail awaiting arraignment, said county Prosecutor Nicholas Iarocci.

According to Iarocci, Buckley was acquainted with the alleged victim's mother through a household member. The girl's mother, who was pregnant with another child at the time of the offenses, arranged for that family member to babysit the girl at Buckley's Ashtabula Township home, as she prepared to give birth.

Buckley is accused of raping and having other sexual contact with the girl, as well as attempting to "make her touch him" during that time, between July 15, 2016 and July 31, 2016, he said.

"(The mother) notices a change in the child's attitude for the last two months (up to the report). Mom speaks with the child directly about what's going on," and the abuse was reported to authorities in September, Iarocci said.

The county Sheriff's Department handled the investigation, he said.

"(Buckley) has been interviewed by investigators," Iarocci said. "We believe that we have a confession."

No further court dates have been set. Court records do not list an attorney for Buckley.

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