NORTHAMPTON — An Easthampton man is being held on $50,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty Tuesday in Hampshire Superior Court to numerous child rape charges.
Robert E. LaFoe Jr., 49, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of aggravated rape and abuse of a child, seven counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and two counts of rape and abuse of a child.
LaFoe lived at a home that operated a family day care. The alleged victims in the case were not children under the care of the day care, according to court records. The Teddy Bear Daycare and Preschool, run out of a home at 1 Droy Circle in Easthampton, was shut down in September while the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care conducted an investigation, which has since concluded.
The day care’s family child care license expired on Oct. 6 and has not been renewed, the state agency told the Gazette in November and confirmed Tuesday.
All but two of the charges involve one alleged victim over the last two years. LaFoe was arraigned on one charge each of rape and abuse of a child involving two different children dating back to the 1980s in one case and the 1990s in another, according to court documents.
All three of the alleged victims were known to LaFoe. The Gazette generally does not identify the alleged victims of sexual assaults.
In September, LaFoe was arraigned in Northampton District Court on four counts of rape of a child with force and six counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. He pleaded not guilty at the time. Bail in that court was set at $100,000. LaFoe is being represented by attorney Emily Shallcross.
LaFoe’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 9.