Update: Albert Mortensen’s case has been continued until Tuesday, August 19th.
The 68-year-old owner of an East Berlin deli was arrested last week for making lewd comments to teenagers and offering to exchange candy and money for a naked photo, police said.
Albert Mortensen of Newington was charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor and impairing the morals of children.
According to police, the owner of the Main Street Deli made sexually explicit comments to a 15-year-old boy last February. The comments included a request for a nude photo in exchange for, “any candy in the store and $100,” police said.
Police were made aware of the encounter in May, after the boy’s sibling told his parents about it.
During the police investigation three other teenage boys were interviewed. One 13-year-old boy told police that Mortensen said he, “would have to work naked,” if he got a job at the deli. Two other 16-year-old boys said they witnessed Mortensen making lewd comments to other juveniles.
Another teen told Fox CT that the Main Street Deli was a popular afternoon hangout for teens. But he said Mortensen’s behavior sometimes bordered on uncomfortable and “overly friendly.”
“He’d be, like, talkative. He would not, like, touch us, but pats on the back and not something you would just do to anyone,” 14-year-old Tanner Parmelee said.
A knock at Mortensen’s door was received with “no comment” from inside.
Mortensen is due in New Britain Superior Court on August 8.
The Main Street Deli is currently closed.