DA to File Child-porn Charges against Robert Ernest Kirchhoff

By Robert Allen
The Coloradoan
February 19, 2012

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20120218/NEWS01/202180311/DA-file-child-porn-charges-against-Robert-Ernest-Kirchhoff

Prosecutors are pursuing a charge of child pornography against a former Loveland church volunteer who's already confessed to sexually assaulting a child.

Robert Ernest Kirchhoff, 54, remains in custody with $100,000 bond after District Judge Julie Field denied a reduction request Friday.

Kirchhoff, who volunteered with preteens at Resurrection Fellowship Church until the charges surfaced, is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl he was babysitting after meeting her family through the church.

He admitted the crime to police and said before his arrest he had "no choice but to run," Deputy District Attorney Greg Biggers said while arguing against bond reduction.

Biggers said a child pornography charge is being pursued and would "bring more severity" to the penalties Kirchhoff faces on the "extremely serious" charges, which include sexual assault on a child and sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

Defense attorney David Johnson asked for Kirchhoff's bond to be lowered to $10,000 so he could recover his belongings from his apartment, from which he's been evicted, and prepare for his sentence.

Kirchhoff formerly ran Duncebusters Play and Learn, an educational children's toy store at the Promenade Shops at Centerra. The city of Loveland seized the business in January 2011 after it failed to pay sales taxes, said Promenade Shops general manager Don Foster.

Foster declined to comment on what type of a tenant Kirchhoff was but said the office never received any complaints about him.

The Rev. Jonathan Wiggins with Resurrection Fellowship said in a statement on the church website that his daughter, who is part of the church's preteen program, indicated she's never felt uncomfortable at preteen events. Copies of the news release Loveland Police Department sent about Kirchhoff's arrest were distributed to members at a recent church service, according to church website www.rez.org.

Kirchhoff was baby-sitting the 14-year-old girl he's accused of sexually assaulting Jan. 27 after getting to know her family through a church group, according to court records.

The girl's parents had him babysit at his apartment in the 2200 block of Rocky Mountain Boulevard in Loveland. The alleged victim was intending to visit Kirchhoff's 12-year-old daughter. He "forcefully grabbed" the girl by the wrist and sexually assaulted her, stopping after she pleaded with him for about 20 minutes, according to Kirchhoff's arrest affidavit.

Kirchhoff was dismissed as a volunteer at Resurrection Fellowship Church soon after the church was made aware of the allegations. He worked with children in a group setting, and the volunteer work never involved trips with children away from the church property, a church spokeswoman previously said.

No incidents are believed to have occurred at the church, and police with Loveland Police Department have said they aren't aware of additional alleged sexual assault victims.

In a case out of Jefferson County, Kirchhoff previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence and child abuse, negligently causing bodily injury. That offense occurred in December 2006. He was given a deferred sentence the following year.

Kirchhoff's next court appearance is set for 10 a.m. March 9 in 8th Judicial District Court.