Massachusetts

Lynn Man Charged With Inappropriately Touching 3 Young Children

A 74-year-old Lynn, Massachusetts man was ordered held without bail Monday on charges that he allegedly exposed himself to and inappropriately touched three children.

James Finn appeared in court on charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, open and gross lewdness and dissemination of harmful material/pornography to a minor.

Lynn police said they responded Sunday afternoon to a Heaths Court apartment building where Finn lives with his elderly wife and works as a trustee after receiving a call from a parent who had discovered her child inside Finn's apartment.

Investigators said Finn had lured two girls as young as eight and one of their brothers into his apartment with candy.

"The kids were just basically playing in the building when they were asked to come into the apartment," Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec said.

Police said the children told them Finn showed them porn on his computer, exposed himself and asked at least one child to perform a sex act on him. He also allegedly touched at least one of the children over her clothes.

"Anytime you have children involved in any type of incident like this, anyone - from not being a parent, to being a parent - you understand when children are involved it’s a very, very sensitive issue," Kmiec said.

One of the girls' parents who had been searching for the children in the building apparently heard them inside Finn’s apartment and knocked.

Police said Finn answered the door with the fly to his pants unzipped, allegedly smelling of alcohol.

"I think it’s every parent’s worst nightmare to have that type of thing happen to their child," Kmiec said. 

Neighbors say it's unsettling to hear the allegations.

"I’m very disturbed, I’m shocked, sad," said Christina Martin. "I’m angry, I’m just upset about the whole thing." 

"I think it’s disgusting and I’m glad that they caught him before I would have seen him," said Paul Martin. "I have two young girls that live in this building too, so it’s too close to home."

"The kids seem to be doing okay, I’ve spoken to the kids this morning,” added Martin. "We just keep talking to them and you know saying that most important thing is that it’s not their fault."

Finn is scheduled to return to court on Thursday for a dangerousness hearing.

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