Pregnancy Leads to Sexual Assault of Minor Charge

A West Hartford man suspected of engaging in a lengthy sexual relationship with a young teen that he said was consensual turned himself in to police on an arrest warrant Tuesday.

Carlos R. Torres, 46, of 37 Alden St., Apt. A-2, has been charged by with second-degree sexual assault and impairing the morals and risk of injury to a minor.

According to police, Torres lived in a basement apartment in West Hartford and engaged in a sexual relationship with the daughter of the family that lived upstairs. The charges stem from allegations of sexual encounters which occurred between Sept. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010, during which time the alleged victim was 14 and 15 years old.

Police say Torres admitted to the relationship, and "did not seem to think anything was wrong because it was all consensual, and was initiated by the minor." Police say that Torres stated that the girl came downstairs to his apartment and approached him, and that they "had sex a lot."

According to police, the minor moved with her family to Bloomfield, and continued the relationship with Torres. She reported to Bloomfield Police that she had been raped after she became pregnant.

Bloomfield Police initiated an investigation, but according to West Hartford Police, it was determined that there was no violation of the law in Bloomfield because the relationship was consensual and at the time the alleged victim became pregnant, she was already 16.

According to Connecticut statutes, a person can be charged with sexual assault (commonly referred to as "statutory rape") for engaging in sexual relations or sexual contact with a person under age 16 if the victim is under age 13, or when the age difference between the two people is more than two years.

The case was turned over to West Hartford Police, who charged Torres on Tuesday. According to court records, he is being held on $75,000 bond and scheduled to appear on Sept. 24.