Nov 25, 2014 3 min read

A West Alexander man accused of inappropriately touching a 6-year-old girl more than 27 years ago when he was a teenager waived an indecent assault charge to court Tuesday.

Brian Christopher Hall, 42, of 125 Main St., was arrested last month by state police for allegedly fondling the girl while she was at his parents’ home in Buffalo Township in September 1987.

Hall was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Ethan Ward. He was initially charged by Trooper Sarah Teagarden with one count each of attempted rape and indecent assault.

The attempted rape charge was withdrawn Tuesday and the complaint amended to add one count of indecent assault.

The alleged victim, who is now 33, contacted Teagarden after reading about Hall’s 2012 arrest for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a 14-year-old girl during summer 2011.

Hall, who was charged by state police with corruption of minors in that case, had his record expunged after he successfully completed the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.

The alleged victim in the 1987 case told Teagarden that she had gone to the home of Hall’s parents so they could babysit her. Hall was 15 at the time.

She said she was sleeping on the floor of Hall’s room and that when she awoke, Hall had reached under her nightgown and touched her inappropriately. She said that when she started to cry, Hall stopped.

She later told her mother, and Hall reportedly was made to apologize. During an interview with Teagarden, Hall allegedly admitted to touching the girl but said he had been at the age where boys experiment.

Ward told Hall, who has been free on $100,000 unsecured bond, that as a condition of his continued release he is not to have any contact with children other than his own and cannot have any contact with the alleged victim.

When defense attorney David Shrager questioned if it included contact with children in a public setting like McDonald’s or a mall, Ward reiterated Hall is to have no contact with children.

“He can’t have any contact with minors, period,” Ward answered. “I don’t understand how I can be more clear.”

Assistant District Attorney Traci McDonald said more and more people are coming forward in this type of case.

“Now they have until they are 50 years old to report abuse,” McDonald said. “We can’t always prosecute because memories fade or the defendants can’t be found. But it is not as unusual as you think.”

Hall is scheduled for formal arraignment Jan. 27.