Overview

• John Church, 60, of Canton, Connecticut, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping related to alleged child sexual abuse in 1982 and 1983.
• The alleged victims were under the age of six at the time of the incidents, which reportedly occurred during the summers of 1982 and 1983 in Watertown.
• A four-month investigation began in January 2025 after the allegations were reported to the Watertown Police Department.
• Prosecutors determined that the statute of limitations for sexual assault had expired, prompting the use of kidnapping charges, which have no time limit under Connecticut law.
• Church is being held on $1.5 million bail and is scheduled for arraignment at Waterbury Superior Court on May 9, 2025.