Convicted child molester charged with kidnapping minor and threatening him with a gun

Boston Police report arresting Charlese Horton, 42, of Dorchester, for allegedly holding a minor against his will and threatening him with a gun last Tuesday - and that Horton is a suspect in at least two similar incidents since October.

Horton, under the name Charles Horton, is a Level 3 sex offender. State records show Horton was convicted in 2000 on charges of assault of a child with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and kidnapping of a child under 16.

Police say last week's incident started on Facebook, where Horton friended the victim - and then began demanding he unfriend some of his other online friends:

The victim stated he began ignoring the suspect who responded that the suspect knew where the victim lived and that the suspect would send someone to hurt the victim. The victim stated the suspect told the victim to meet at a restaurant in the area of Seaver Street and Humboldt Avenue to which the victim complied out of fear.

The victim stated when he arrived at the location, the suspect called the victim and instructed him to meet the suspect in the area of 100 Seaver Street. The victim was guided into the rear of the building where he and the suspect entered the building. The victim stated the suspect removed a firearm from a green shopping bag before forcing the victim to access his Facebook account. The victim stated the suspect took the victim’s phone and began sending messages to the victim’s friends and family. The victim stated a police cruiser passed by the area, causing the suspect to flee in an unknown direction. The suspect was described as wearing a distinctive hat with a marijuana leaf on the front.

Detectives investigating that case soon learned of two similar incidents, one in which Horton allegedly kidnapped a juvenile and threatened him with a gun on Columbia Road in Uphams Corner on Jan. 2 and a similar incident involving another juvenile at Columbia Road and Geneva Avenue in October.

Detectives eventually went to Horton's state-listed address on Trull Street in Dorchester:

Officers conducted surveillance of the suspect’s residence in Dorchester. The suspect entered a motor vehicle and officers followed, conducting a traffic stop shortly thereafter. As officers approached the vehicle, a green shopping bag similar to the one that the victim stated the suspect had kept his firearm in, was observed in the rear of the vehicle. The suspect was removed from the vehicle and the vehicle was seized in relation to the investigation.

Horton was charged with kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon, police say.

Innocent, etc.