According to Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy…

According to Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O’Meara, who is the Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, a West Carthage man has been indicted by the Oneida County Grand Jury for having sexual contact with a child less than eleven years old.

The investigation began on February 26, 2024 when a report was received by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, alleging that Robert Houghton, age 53(at the time of the report) had subjected a female child to sexual contact. The report was then turned over to the Child Advocacy Center for investigation due to the nature of the allegations and was assigned to OCSO Sergeant Melissa Bolton, who is assigned at the Child Advocacy Center.

As a result of the investigation, it was learned that in February of 2024, Houghton, now 54 years old and formerly of Boonville, N.Y., had subjected a female child less than eleven years old to sexual contact at a residence in Boonville. The investigation was then turned over to the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, who presented the case to the Oneida County Grand Jury in October of 2024. The Grand Jury returned an indictment against Houghton on the following charges:

2 Counts of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, a Class A-ll Felony

1 Count of Rape in the First Degree, a Class B Felony

1 Count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, a Class B Felony

1 Count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D Felony

As a result of the indictment, a Superior Court Warrant of Arrest was issued for Houghton. On October 7, 2024 Houghton was located at his residence in West Carthage, N.Y. by members of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Unit, the US Marshal’s Service and the New York State Police where he was then taken into custody. Houghton was held at the Oneida County Correctional Facility overnight where he was then arraigned in Oneida County Court on October 8, 2024. Upon arraignment, Houghton was remanded to the OCCF in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. An Order of Protection was issued on behalf of the victim, who has been offered services through the Child Advocacy Center.