Pleas heard in two sex assault cases

NORTH CANAAN — Two local men charged with sexually assaulting children pleaded not guilty in Litchfield Superior Court July 7.

Gregory Drumm, 31, formerly of North Canaan and now a Falls Village resident, is accused of having sexual contact with a preschool aged child at an undisclosed location. For undisclosed reasons, the child later came into the custody of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Drumm was charged with first-degree sexual assault and illegal sexual contact, both felonies. He remains in custody on a $150,000 bond. The case goes into the pre-trial phase July 20.

Martin Gingras, 32, of Winsted stands accused of having assaulted a young boy while he was his swim instructor at the YMCA in North Canaan in 2008.

Gingras’ employment there recently ended.

The complaint came from a mother who said Gingras had illicit contact with her two sons. The assaults allegedly took place at the YMCA and at Gingras’ Great Barrington home. One of the boys refused to speak with investigators, so no charges were filed for that alleged assault.

In court documents, Gingras admits to being involved in two other sexual assault investigations. He was not previously arrested. He alleged the current accusations have to do with prior involvement, including consensual sex, with at least one member of the complainant’s family.

He remains in custody on a $165,000 bond. Pre-trial begins July 27.

The pre-trial phase is primarily for the court to examine a case and decide if there is probable cause to move forward to a trial. Cases may be dropped, and may end at this stage with a plea bargain agreement.