Crime & Safety

Man Charged In Assault Of Juvenile Had Child Sex Abuse Material On Cellphone, Greenwich Police Say

Some images were from a recording device that was placed inside a bathroom stall at an establishment in Greenwich, police said.

GREENWICH, CT — A 32-year-old man charged in connection with the September 2025 assault of a middle school student is now facing additional charges after Greenwich police said investigators found child sex abuse material on his cellphone.

Hector J. Romero Vargas, of Port Chester, N.Y., was arrested on May 14 and charged with one count of voyeurism involving a victim younger than 16, four counts of voyeurism involving photographs taken for sexual gratification, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material, according to police.

On Sept. 11, 2025, at approximately 8:11 a.m., Greenwich police received a report that a 13-year-old girl was grabbed from behind by an unknown man while walking to middle school in the area of Lockwood Road and Breezemont Avenue.

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Investigators later identified Romero Vargas as the suspect, and he surrendered to police on Dec. 1, 2025. He was charged with second-degree unlawful restraint, fourth-degree sexual assault, first-degree stalking, second-degree child endangerment, risk of injury to a child, and second-degree breach of peace.

At the time of his arrest, Romero Vargas had a cellphone, which was seized as evidence, police said. Investigators then secured two search warrants to forensically examine the device.

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"The forensic investigation of the phone, conducted pursuant to two authorized search warrants, revealed digital evidence that included multiple files containing sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as numerous voyeuristic photographs and video recordings," police said. "Investigators also recovered screenshots associated with a concealed video recording device that had been placed inside a bathroom stall at an establishment in Greenwich."

Romero Vargas was given a $200,000 bond, and he remains in custody, the CT Judicial Branch website notes. He's scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on July 28.

Police are asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim in the case, or who may have information relevant to the investigation, to contact the department’s Special Victims Section at 203-622-8030.

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