LAWRENCE: Man, 89, indicted on sexual charges

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   An 86-year-old Lawrence Township man has been indicted on three counts of criminal sexual contact for allegedly fondling three women in separate incidents that occurred between November 2011 and July 2012, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
   Charles Deaton, who lives on Ivy Glen Lane, was indicted by the Mercer County Grand Jury. The grand jury declined to hand down a fourth indictment for insufficient evidence involving a 61-year-old neighbor, according to a press release issued by the prosecutor’s office.
   Mr. Deaton was indicted on one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact for touching the breast and buttocks of a 30-year-old neighbor on Nov. 29, 2011, the press release said.
   Mr. Deaton was indicted on a second count of criminal sexual contact for approaching and then grabbing a store clerk at McGrath’s Pharmacy on Jan. 28. He allegedly approached the clerk and allowed his hand to graze across her body, before grabbing her and touching her.
   The third count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact was the result of Mr. Deaton having touched a Macy’s Department Store clerk in an inappropriate way July 23. He asked the clerk to help him because he was unsteady on his feet, and allowed his hand to brush against her body.