64yo Alleged Sexual Predator Arrested

A 64-year-old man who called himself "Uncle Joe" to befriend neighborhood children has been arrested on suspicion of child abuse and child molestation.

Phoenix Police say that Joseph Edward Roberts has victimized at least four girls between the ages of 12 and 15, and are looking into the likelihood of more victims.

Police say the man would gain the trust of families, invite their children to live with him, take them on trips, and he would allegedly molest them.

"He would befriend people that were down on their luck, specifically moms coming out of rehab, parents coming out of jail, and he would offer to take in their children. Specifically, young ladies, around the age of 8 or 10 when they would start living with him," says Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump says. "There were several families that allowed their kids to live with him over the years."

Police say one of the girls had been under his care for as long as five years. He is also accused of using children to defraud by appealing to passerbys for charity, including a scheme where he would drop off children in parking lots to sell charity pens.

Sgt. Trent Crump says police were first notified of multiple sexual assault victims about noon Saturday -- during which the suspect was out with some of the victims and their friends. All the children were dropped off and were safe and accounted for by Saturday afternoon, while Roberts apparently took off heading north.

Sgt. Crump says one of the victims came forward to a family member just before Thanksgiving.

"He would buy them cell phones, he would buy them clothes, take them shopping, he would pay for their sporting events and take them to Disneyland -- clearly an individual who was a predator and grooming these girls at a young age for himself," says Sgt. Crump.

Police and U.S. Marshals arrested the alleged sexual predator Sunday morning in Cordes Junction, Ariz. He is facing 10 charges including child abuse, sexual conduct with a minor, and public sexual indecency.

Roberts also had a felony warrant for his arrest out of California on drug charges.

Sgt. Crump says investigators are working on getting the victims counseling.