LITCHFIELD — A Barkhamsted man, awaiting trial in a case charging him with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl, faces new charges alleging he abused a 9-year-old boy.

The child told police that 41-year-old Andrew Fallon punished him by repeatedly whacking him with a belt on the soles of his feet with the belt and metal buckle. The allegation is one of several punishments he reportedly suffered over a six-year period, according to police.

Fallon, 13 Old Farm Road, was arraigned in Bantam Superior Court Tuesday on charges of risk of injury to a child, second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault, and disorderly conduct. Appearing without an attorney, Fallon stood before Judge Charles D. Gill, who ordered him to have no contact with the child.

Fallon was arrested last year after his babysitter told police she was given alcohol and molested by Fallon and his former roommate Terasa Pisciottano, also of Barkhamsted.

For the last five years Fallon has been trying to maintain visitation with his own children. In the divorce file located at Litchfield Superior Court, while there were allegations he left his children alone several times, there were no complaints of physical abuse. Fallon, a former fitness instructor at the YMCA in Winsted lost his job since the sexual abuse allegations surfaced.

The child’s mother told police Fallon was the disciplinarian but she did not feel Fallon did anything wrong.

Fallon denied ever harming the child or abusing him, when questioned by state police. Attempts to contact his attorneys were unsuccessful.

Police were initially called on July 19, 2008 after the child disclosed the reported abuse to a babysitter but two weeks later when psychologist interviewed the child, he recanted his story. He was afraid he would be punished by losing his privilege to play “Dungeons and Dragons” and that he would be separated from his mother.

Police closed the case against Fallon at that time, but reopened their investigation in August 2009. The child had been living with a foster family for several months when he decided to open up again to his counselor.

The child who was initially animated by a promised visit to a relative, quickly withdrew into a fetal position and quiet voice when he described the physical and psychological abuse he allegedly suffered. “He began picking at his hands and legs, the cadence of his speech slowed and he appeared very sad,” the psychologist reported.

Fallon struck him on the feet so hard they were red and he could barely walk, he said. He was frightened and could not breath when Fallon put a blanket over his head and smothered him while he cried, he reportedly told officials.

The child described a frightening punishment where Fallon forced him to lie on his stomach on the floor of Fallon’s bedroom while he sat on him and struck his feet. When the child looked over his shoulder Fallon pushed his face in the to ground telling him not to look. The child cried he was sorry repeatedly but Fallon yelled back, “Shut up!”, the child reported, according to the warrant.

SOURCE: http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2009/11/11/news/doc4afa42a20d6cd769532582.txt