Police: Fairfield Man Sexually Assaulted Boy

A Fairfield man was taken into custody Friday after police say an investigation showed he assaulted a male minor in February 2011.

Robert Purcell, 73, of 312 Warde Terrace in Fairfield, was charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor on Jan. 10.

Police described the event between Purcell and the boy, which allegedly took place in Fairfield, as “the most serious of all the events.”

According to police, Wallingford Detectives were provided information by a victim’s parent that a sexual assault occurred in Wallingford in Oct. 2013. The parents believed someone known to the family was the perpetrator and that he resided in Fairfield. They also believed that additional crimes might have occurred in Fairfield and Stratford by the same suspect. 

Wallingford Detectives conducted a voluntary interview of Purcell at the Fairfield Police Department. The interview and other supporting evidence confirmed that Purcell had assaulted the minor over 12 times during a four-year period, according to police. 

Purcell was taken into custody on Nov. 26, 2013 by Fairfield Detectives serving an active warrant out of Wallingford for first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

Following the arrest, Fairfield Detective Beth Irizarry initiated a parallel investigation, collaborating with an Inspector at the Bridgeport Superior Court, Wallingford Detectives and the State’s Attorney’s office in New Haven. 

Irizarry then found evidence that an assault had taken place in Fairfield between Purcell and a minor boy in February 2011, according to police.

Purcell turned himself in at the Fairfield Police Department and is being held on $100,000 bond. He was transported to Bridgeport court for arraignment later today.