UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – A Utica man has been arrested by Oneida County Sheriffs after a seven-month investigation revealed he was allegedly having sexual contact with a child.

According to Oneida County Sheriffs, the investigation began in January when the Whitesboro Police Department received a report of an adult male who allegedly had sexual contact with a child victim. Further investigation revealed that the suspect – 34-year-old Hector Negron of Utica – had sexual contact with a child under the age of 11 on two occasions in October of 2021.

Sheriffs then attempted to locate Negron but were unable to, as he was believed to have fled the area. The case was subsequently turned over to the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office for grand jury consideration.

Negron was finally located on Thursday, August 3 by Whitesboro Police at a residence in the village. He was subsequently arrested after an alleged foot chase on charges stemming from a separate incident. Negron was arraigned with bail and was transferred to the Oneida County Correctional Facility where he was incarcerated.

On Wednesday, August 16, Negron’s case was brought before the Oneida County Grand Jury. He was indicted on two counts of first-degree Sexual Abuse, two counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance of a Child, two counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Child – all felonies – and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor.

Negron was arraigned on Thursday, August 17 in Oneida County Court. He was remanded back to the Oneida County Correctional Facility on $20,000 bail.