By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – A Norco man accused of repeatedly sexually molesting two young relatives over a five-year period was arrested Friday by St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputies.

The 42-year-old man, whom the Sheriff’s Office would not identify in order to protect the victims, was charged with sexual battery, five counts of oral sexual battery and five counts of molestation of a juvenile, said Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange, public information officer for the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

The man was booked into the Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility in Hahnville, where he is being held on a $550,000 bond.

According to LaGrange, investigators said the abuse began about five years ago when one of the victims was a teenager and the other was younger child.

LaGrange said both victims are teenagers now.

LaGrange said the years of abuse came to light when the older victim told his mother. The mother then questioned the younger child, who also admitted being a victim to the abuse.

LaGrange said the mother filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office, who then questioned both victims.

The Sheriff’s Office would not reveal any further information about the alleged incidents, the age of the victims, or the gender of the younger child.