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February 04. 2013 12:46PM

Former St. Thomas Aquinas teacher charged with possessing child porn

By JAMES A. KIMBLE
Union Leader Correspondent

DARYL ROBERTSON

PORTSMOUTH - A former St. Thomas Aquinas music teacher cleared of misdemeanor sexual assault in 2009 was arraigned Monday morning for possession of child pornography.

Daryl Robertson, 38, of 565 River Road, Eliot, Maine, was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail after his arraignment in 10th Circuit Court, Portsmouth District Division.

Robertson was arrested Friday in Massachusetts on a fugitive from justice charge, after Greenland police obtained a warrant charging him with seven counts of possession of child sex abuse images. The images, according to court complaints, depict young boys engaged in sexual conduct.

Police searched the home of Robertson's parents in Greenland on Jan. 31 at the prompting of investigators with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Greenland Detective Dave Kurkul said Monday that Robertson, who has been living in Eliot, Maine, is expected to face more charges in federal court based a search of his home by the U.S. Postal Service.

Robertson was found not guilty by a Strafford County jury in 2009 on a misdemeanor sexual assault charge. Prosecutors had alleged in that case Robertson groped the genitals of a male student in November 2007. The incident happened at Robertson's home.
Robertson was employed by St. Thomas Aquinas in Dover as a music teacher from 2002 to 2008. He also worked three years in the Laconia school district, according to court records.
Defense lawyer Alan Cronheim argued in court that his client did not pose a safety risk and had no prior criminal record. Kurkul asked a judge to maintain the $100,000 cash bail, "based on the serious nature of the crimes, and pending federal charges."

Kurkul said in court that Robertson could pose a flight risk and should be barred from any contact with children.

Prior to his arrest, Robertson has been self-employed as a landscaper and also books tour buses for music events, according to Kurkul.

Each of the possession of child sexual abuse images charges are class A felonies, punishable by up to 7 ½ to 15 years in state prison. Kurkul said that U.S. Postal Service executed a search warrant at Robertson's home in Eliot, Maine, and are expected to bring "a substantial amount of charges."