Suffolk cop helps nab alleged rapistConnecticut man accused of sexually assaulting 11-year-old

Suffolk cop helps nab alleged rapistConnecticut man accused of sexually assaulting 11-year-old

November 18, 2008

JOSEPH MALLIA

newsday.com

An Internet sting by an undercover Suffolk County police officer resulted in an FBI raid on the home of a Connecticut man who was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl, according to a published report.

Craig Niles, 59, of West Stafford, Conn., was arrested Saturday and charged with 20 felony counts of illegal sexual contact with a minor, sexual assault, employing a minor in an obscene performance and possession of child pornography, Connecticut court records show.

Niles remained in jail on $750,000 bond as of Tuesday afternoon, court records show.

Niles' arrest warrant says the arrest came after a Suffolk County police officer engaged in a sexually explicit online chat with him about child pornography, the Hartford Courant reported.

Suffolk police Tuesday did not respond to requests for information on the Internet pedophile sting.

The Courant reported that Niles confessed to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl, according to a warrant for his arrest. Niles, who is married, indicated to state police detectives that he often engaged in what he described as "consensual sex" with the girl while his wife was away.

In a separate interview with state police, the child told a different story. According to the warrant, Niles would engage in sexual activity with the child while others watched him on the Internet, and the child confirmed this, the newspaper reported.

Three children who were living at the home were taken into state custody.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.