Atwater man charged with molesting young girl for nearly a decade. Pleads not guilty

An Atwater man accused of molesting a young girl for nearly a decade pleaded not guilty this week to more than half a dozen felony charges, according to Merced County Superior Court records.

Steven W. Labelle Jr., 37, is accused of molesting, fondling and other “forcible” lewd acts on a young girl with whom he has a family connection spanning about eight years, according to reports from the Atwater Police Department and court documents.

At least two of the alleged victim’s family members told police Labelle acknowledged wrongdoing during angry confrontations in January this year, saying “yes, yes, yes, I’m sick, I’m sorry,” according to police reports obtained by the Sun-Star.

Police said Labelle abused the girl sexually on multiple occasions between 2005 and 2013, according to the criminal complaint filed in Merced Superior Court. The victim was approximately 5 years old at the time of the first alleged incident, according to investigators.

If convicted, Labelle faces up to 30 years in state prison, according to the Merced County District Attorney’s Office.

Allegations surfaced in January during an angry late-night argument with the girl and others in her family. Labelle was arrested on misdemeanor public drunkenness charge later that same night but was released the following morning after detectives were unable to immediately get a statement from the victim and Labelle invoked his right to avoid questioning from police without an attorney present, according to police reports.

Prosecutors examined the case and filed formal charges against Labelle on July 17. A warrant was issued for his arrest that same day, according to documents.

However, police said, Labelle was “out of town” for an extended period and was not immediately arrested. Atwater officers stopped short of saying Labelle fled from police.

Authorities said it was unclear if Labelle had been informed of the warrant.

Atwater police on Tuesday received an anonymous tip that Labelle “had returned to Atwater and was at his house,” Detective Anthony Cardoza said.

Police went to the home and said Labelle was arrested without incident. He appeared in court Wednesday before Judge Harry Jacobs and pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to court records.

He remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility with bail set at $750,000, according to booking records.

This story was originally published October 26, 2017 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Atwater man charged with molesting young girl for nearly a decade. Pleads not guilty."