Robert Caesar

CRANBERRY TWP — With a trial date set for him to face more than 250 sexual assault charges in Chester County, Robert Caesar is now lodged in Butler County Prison after answering to 13-year old charges in Cranberry Township.

During a hearing last week before District Judge David Kovach, Caesar, 56, of Oxford, Pa., was held for court on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 years of age, a felony, and misdemeanor charges of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, two counts of corruption of a minor, possession of an instrument of crime with intent and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age.

The charges stem from a series of incidents first reported to Cranberry Township police in 2005.

According to a criminal complaint, two boys, ages 9 and 14, reported on July 16, 2005, that they had been sexually assaulted at different times by Caesar, who at the time was living in Cranberry Township. One victim told police he routinely mowed the lawn at Caesar’s home, and that between April and July of 2005 Caesar invited him into the residence. The complaint states Caesar invited the victim into the basement, where he asked the victim to model underwear and bathing suits so he could take digital images, “to see how they fit.”

On July 16, 2005, officers searched Caesar’s home and found 76 pairs of boys’ underwear. When questioned, Caesar said he was sent the items randomly when placing an order on eBay, the complaint states. Officers searched his computer, where they allegedly found “numerous searches for young boys and teen boy’s underwear, both new and used,” the complaint states.

Officers also allegedly found Caesar to have visited pornographic websites where he searched for videos of young males and boys engaging in sexual acts.

A Dec. 4 formal arraignment is scheduled before Judge William Shaffer. That comes a day after Caesar is scheduled to stand trial in Chester County on more than 250 charges from incidents allegedly beginning in 2015 and running through January.

According to information from the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers group, state police received a tip in January 2018 alleging Caesar had purchased used boys underwear and bathing suits. An accusation also was made against Caesar alleging he sexually abused two juvenile males between 2015 and 2017. A third victim came forward alleging similar contact in 2016.

During the investigation, police allegedly found hundreds of images and videos featuring child pornography.

Included in the three separate sets of charges are statutory sexual assault of an 11 year old, involuntary deviate sexual assault of a person less than 16, indecent exposure, indecent assault of a person less than 16, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person less than 13, endangering the welfare of children as a parent or guardian and corruption of a minor. He also faces 200 counts of possessing child pornography, and one count of dissemination of a photo or video showing child sex acts.

Caesar is currently held in Butler County Prison, where court documents indicate he has been since Oct. 23.