Press Releases
02/05/2021
Bristol Man Charged In Human Trafficking Investigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2021
(New Britain, CT) — New Britain State’s Attorney Brian Preleski announced today that a Bristol man was arrested February 4, 2021 by the Southington Police Department and charged with attempting to solicit sex with a child for money.
Robert M. Sellers, age 60, of Putnam Street in Bristol was charged with Criminal Attempt to Commit Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Criminal Attempt to Commit Sexual Assault in the Second Degree and Criminal Attempt to Commit Risk of Injury to a Minor following an investigation by the Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force, a regional human trafficking and child exploitation task force consisting of state, municipal and federal law enforcement agencies. Sellers is alleged to have arranged with an FBI online covert employee to pay $200 to engage in sexual intercourse with a child. Sellers arrived at a predetermined location in Southington and paid the FBI employee $200 in anticipation of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child. He was arrested while proceeding to the motel room he rented for the encounter.
At Sellers’ arraignment today in New Britain Superior Court, G.A. No. 15, he was presented before the Hon. Maureen M. Keegan who ordered bond in the amount of $150,000 and transferred the case to Part A in New Britain Superior Court where Sellers is scheduled to appear on February 19, 2021. The charges against Sellers are accusations and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Criminal Attempt to Commit Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor is a Class B Felony. Criminal Attempt to Commit Sexual Assault in the Second Degree and Criminal Attempt to Commit Risk of Injury to a Minor are Class C felonies.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Helen J. McLellan of the New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office.