Men Accused of Sexually Assaulting 14-year-old Boy

The 72-year-old Groton man and 26-year-old New London man arrested this week are accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy, according to an affidavit filed in New London Superior Court.

The affidavit said the boy went to the Groton house of George Hammel, 72, initially to play video games with a friend, then started doing chores for the older man. The affidavit said the boy was then ordered by Hammel to perform sexual acts and assaulted.

Hammel, of 20 Birch St., Groton, was arrested May 5 and charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. He posted a $200,000 bond today, which requires $14,150 in cash.

Gustavo Pereira, 26, of 43 West St., Apt. J, in New London, was also arrested May 5 and faces charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. He previously served time for a sexual assault in South Carolina.

Hammel’s lawyer, Rene Houle, declined to discuss the case after the arraignment Friday. Hammel’s next scheduled court date is May 24. 

The case was transferred to New London's Part A court, which handles serious felonies.

According to the arrest affidavit, Groton Police responded on March 1 to a reported sexual assault, then met with the boy and his family.

The boy, 14, told police that he met Hammel in the summer of 2010, because he would go to Hammel’s house to play video games and skateboard with Hammel’s roommate’s son.

At some point, the roommate’s son stopped visiting, and Hammel approached the alleged victim’s father and asked if he could help with chores, the affidavit said. The father agreed, and the boy began doing the chores, police said.

Then, on one of the visits, Hammel invited the victim to his room to use his computer, and showed him a pornographic site, the affidavit said. Hammel told the boy to engage in a sexual act, and threatened to hurt him if he did not comply, the affidavit said.

In September, the boy was told to perform another sexual act, the affidavit said. “Hammel told the victim he had to, or he would hurt his family,” the affidavit said.

The boy was also told to engage in a sex act in October and was given $20 after the incidents in September and October, the affidavit said.

In November, the affidavit said that when the boy arrived at Hammel’s house, Pereira was there. The boy said both men ordered him to engage in a sex act, threatened to hurt his family, then Pereira assaulted him, the affidavit said.

"The victim never went back to Hammel's after this incident," the affidavit said.

Police said Pereira told them he never saw the victim naked, and never assaulted him, the affidavit said.

Sometime around January, the boy was misbehaving and confided in his brother about the alleged incidents, the affidavit said.