Canton Man Accused Of Kidnapping Children In 1980s: Police

WATERTOWN/CANTON, CT — A 60-year-old Canton man is charged with kidnapping children in Watertown in connection with a sex abuse probe dating back to the early 1980s, when he was a teenager.

According to the Watertown Police Department, on Thursday, John Church, 60, of Bridge Street, Canton, was charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping.

Police said Church was held on a $1.5 million bond for arraignment in Waterbury Superior Court on Friday, May 9.

According to police, Church was taken into custody on Thursday.

Police said the arrest comes from an investigation that began in January after allegations of sexual abuse were made to the Watertown Police Department.

According to the WPD, these incidents occurred over the summers of 1982 and 1983 in Watertown.

Two victims were identified, both under 6 years of age at the time of the abuse.

"During consultation with the Waterbury States Attorney's Office, it was determined that the statute of limitations for the sexual assault charges has expired," police said in a release Thursday.

As a result, an arrest warrant was obtained through the Waterbury Superior Court for two counts of first-degree.

Watertown police urged survivors of sexual abuse at any age to reach out to victim advocacy services in their area to aid in their recovery.