DANBURY

⏩ MOLESTATION CASE RETURNS

TO COURT NEXT MONTH

The pre-trial hearing of a Bethel man accused of inappropriately touching a child in his care has been continued to Dec. 11.

Nathan K. Shupp, 43, has pleaded not guilty to the fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to child and illegal sexual contact charges brought after police say he had “inappropriate contact” with a 10-year-old girl.

Shupp was arrested July 17, following a three-month police investigation into complaints made by the child’s relatives.

The victim’s mother told police she stopped allowing her daughter to go to Shupp’s house after the 10-yearold told her Shupp had touched her inappropriately.

The victim told a forensic interviewer she went to Shupp’s house from August 2018 through February 2019, and that he would often attempt to make contact with her “intimate body parts,” according to an arrest affidavit.

Shupp told police he knew the victim and would watch her, but he denied any allegations of sexual contact, according to the affidavit.

He did, however, admit — among other things — to sharing a blanket with the child and hugging her “during the course of such activity,” police said.

Shupp was held on $50,000 bond while awaiting arraignment, and is currently out on a $25,000 professional surety bond.

He is being represented in state Superior Court in Danbury by attorney Philip Dale Russell, according to court documents.