A Blair County judge denied motions to suppress the statements given to Altoona police by the city man accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in September 2022.

Christopher Hauck Roberts, 36, faces five felony counts each of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors.

Roberts was charged after the victim’s mother allegedly witnessed Roberts lifting up her daughter’s top and groping her exposed chest, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

In an interview, Roberts reportedly told police his curiosity got the best of him and admitted to touching the girl five or six other times in the last month. He allegedly admitted he knew what he did was wrong and that he made a bad decision.

Defense attorney Daniel Kiss filed a motion to suppress Roberts’s statements to police as “involuntary” and argued that there was insufficient probable cause for a subsequent search warrant issued that allowed officers to take photos of Roberts’ residence.

In an opinion handed down on April 8, Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard denied and dismissed Roberts’ motions, stating Roberts’ waiver of his Miranda warnings were waived “knowingly and intelligently.”

As a part of his motions, Roberts stated he had been evaluated after his arrest and found to be “on the autism spectrum,” according to court documents.

Bernard wrote in her opinion that Roberts’ “claimed autism is irrelevant for the reason that the court finds he was not subject to custodial interrogation,” which is a type of questioning in which the suspect is not free to leave.

“Roberts knew the reason police wanted to talk to him from the get go when he was approached at his place of business,” Bernard wrote. “Roberts drove his own vehicle to the police station, he was advised that he did not have to answer any questions and would be free to leave and he could stop answering at any time.”

Bernard pointed to officer testimony given during prior hearings, in which they said Roberts was provided his Miranda warnings. They stated Roberts waived his rights in writing.

She also noted that neither tests used to evaluate Roberts “applied to his comprehension of the Miranda warnings” and that his “diagnosis was procured after the commencement of his prosecution and there is no evidence that he was procuring counseling services prior to his criminal charges.”

“Even if the court were to accept somehow a retroactive incorporation of Roberts’ purported diagnosis, Roberts was eloquent in his statements to police, does not appear unsettled, confused or disoriented,” Bernard wrote.

In addressing Roberts’ claims that probable cause did not exist to justify a search warrant for his home, Bernard wrote that “the affidavit contains information based on the (victim’s mother’s) report of her observations, living conditions and scene of the incident.”

“The court concludes the affidavit recites specific and sufficient facts supporting the magistrate’s determination to issue a search warrant,” Bernard wrote.

Online court documents show that Roberts is scheduled for jury selection on June 22. A jury trial presided over by Bernard is to follow on July 14 and conclude on July 17.

Roberts remains free after posting his $75,000 bail.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.