Pittsfield man faces child abuse charges

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A 22-year-old Pittsfield man has been ordered held on $50,000 bail after pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting several children and forcing them to pose nude for pictures.

Robert Labarre was arraigned Thursday in Central Berkshire District Court on charges of rape of a child with force, distribution of material involving nude children, placing a nude child in a lascivious pose, and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

The Berkshire Eagle ( http://bit.ly/M8v8bO ) reports he was arrested Wednesday.

Authorities say Labarre was supposed to take care of five children between the ages of 5 and 9 while their parents were not home. Only the 5-year-old was spared the alleged abuse.

Labarre's court-appointed lawyer said there is no evidence to support the allegations and his client maintains his innocence.