Baltimore County police have arrested a registered sex offender in Dundalk, charging him with sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy and soliciting sex from a 14-year-old boy.
Police arrested Robert Paul Layton, 48, of Broadship Road, on Feb. 6 after a 14-year-old boy told an officer at Dundalk Middle School that Layton solicited him for sex, charging documents said. He also told the officer that his 13-year-old friend had engaged in a sex act with Layton, police said.
The officer immediately began an investigation that revealed that Layton was a registered child sex offender in Maryland, according to Baltimore County police.
The solicitation of the 14-year-old and abuse of the 13-year-old both occurred last month while the victims played pool at Layton?s house with friends, charging documents said.
After Layton?s arrest, detectives said they recovered several photographs of unknown nude juvenile boys during a search of his residence.
Detectives said they fear many other children are victims of sexual abuse by Layton.
Police charged Layton with sex abuse of a minor, second-degree sex offense and second-degree assault, among other charges. They denied him bail and he will await trail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.
Court records show a Prince George?s County Circuit Court judge convicted Layton of three counts of third-degree sex offense in 1995.
Del. John Olszewski Jr., D-District 6, who represents Dundalk, said the alleged offenses underscore the need for tougher regulations on where convicted sex offenders can live.
Olszewski and Del. Eric Bromwell, D-District 8, have introduced a state bill that would make it illegal for people convicted of child sex offenses to live within 2,000 feet of places where children congregate, such as schools.
“I think it highlights the need for the heightened restrictions to protect our most vulnerable group,” Olszewski said. “It?s serious. The need for it is more critical now than ever.”
