Police Charge Pair In Sexual Assault Investigation

By Andrew Gorosko

Police have lodged criminal charges against a Plumtrees Road couple in connection with a police investigation into a sexual assault complaint.

Early on the morning of December 4, police arrested James Leebaert, 19, of 30 Plumtrees Road on a warrant, charging him with first-degree sexual assault in connection with an incident that occurred earlier this year. In a statement, police said the arrest “stems from an investigation of a sexual assault incident involving James [Leebaert] in late July of 2007.”

In conducting that investigation, police said they uncovered another incident that involved Leebaert, his wife Nicole Cain, 20, of 30 Plumtrees Road, and also a minor, who was the victim. That incident occurred in late 2005 or in early 2006, police said.

Thus, police arrested Leebaert on a separate warrant, charging him with second-degree sexual assault, and with risk of injury to a minor.

In connection with that matter, police arrested Cain on a warrant, charging her with risk of injury to a minor.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe said the warrants in the case are sealed because the criminal allegations involve a minor, who was the victim of both incidents. The police chief did not provide the gender or the age of the minor.

He termed the case, “a highly confidential, sensitive investigation,” and declined to provide details.

Police held Leebaert on $100,000 bail, and held Cain on $25,000 bail for arraignments on December 4 in Danbury Superior Court.

Following their arraignments, at which they did not enter pleas to the charges to the pending charges, Leebaert and Cain were released from custody after posting their respective bonds of $100,000 and $25,000.

Both defendants are represented by public defenders. Both are scheduled to appear in court again on December 20.