Altoona man pleads no contest to sexual assault of child
Roberts sentenced to 10 years’ probation
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The city man who was caught sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in September 2022 pleaded no contest to the 15 felony counts against him Thursday afternoon and was sentenced to 10 years' probation.
Christopher Hauck Roberts, 36, was charged with five felony counts each of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, unlawful contact with a minor - sexual offenses and corruption of minors - defendant age 18 or above after he was seen lifting the victim's shirt and bra and touching her exposed chest.
Court documents state the victim was sleeping at the time and the witness ran into the room to confront Roberts. She and the girl then left the residence and reported the incident.
In a subsequent interview with police, Roberts said his curiosity got the best of him and admitted to touching the girl five or six other times in the last month. He told officers that he knew what he did was wrong and that he made a bad decision, court documents state.
Before Roberts' sentencing, First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith told Senior Judge Timothy M. Sullivan that she had spoken to the victim and her family about the plea agreement and that they were on board. Sullivan then heard impact statements from the victim and her mother.
The victim told Roberts that he "made a choice that changed my childhood."
"Gymnastics was a huge part of my life," the victim said. "You destroyed that. You took that away from me."
At the time of the incidents, Roberts was the owner of the now-closed 4 Seasons Gymnastics located along Logan Boulevard.
The victim's mother, speaking through tears, said she had replayed what happened "over and over" in her mind amid feelings of fear, disbelief and confusion.
"You weren't just someone I knew," she told Roberts. "You were a trusted friend for over two years."
She told the court she wanted accountability, as Roberts took away the life she and her daughter loved.
"The gym wasn't just a building," the victim's mother said. "It was a second home."
Following the statements, Sullivan heard from defense attorney Daniel Kiss, who said that Roberts was taking the plea "to accept responsibility."
Kiss told Sullivan that Roberts had decided against putting the victim and her family through a trial and that Roberts had been free on bail for four years without issue.
"(The assault) seems to be out-of-the-blue behavior for him," Kiss said.
When given the opportunity to speak, Roberts chose to remain silent.
In addition to sentencing Roberts to 10 years' probation, Sullivan ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution within the next 60 days to go toward the victim's therapy; pay a $1,000 fine; pay the cost of prosecution; undergo sexual offender treatment and counseling; undergo a mental health evaluation and complete any recommended treatment; and have no contact with any minors outside of his own family.
Roberts has been free after posting his $75,000 bail on Sept. 29, 2022.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.