Timothy Vacher - Repeat Sex Offender - Child Predator captured by Target Security Camera

Previous Convictions:

• OPEN AND GROSS LEWDNESS AND LASCIVIOUS BEHAVIOR Conviction Date=12/26/1995
• INDECENT ASSAULT AND BATTERY ON CHILD UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE Conviction Date=2/9/1998

A Level 3 sex offender, convicted of indecently grabbing a 6-year-old girl a dozen years ago at the Emerald Square mall, is scheduled to appear in court today, allegedly for leering at children at the Target store.

Timothy Vacher, 39, of 31 Sumner St., North Attleboro, was scheduled to appear before a judge in New Bedford Superior Court to determine whether a hearing should be held to determine whether the new accusations constitute a violation of his probation.

Detective Lt. David Dawes said police received two separate complaints from two mothers last week about Vacher's alleged behavior in the shoe department at Target off Route 1. Police contacted probation officials and obtained a warrant for Vacher's arrest last Friday.

"He was using the same M.O. that he used 10 years ago at Filene's," Dawes said of the allegations against Vacher.

Vacher was sent to prison for following a girl inside the Filene's store at the mall in November 1996. He took the girl behind a display and bent down to her feet before store security, who had noticed him on video surveillance cameras, pounced on him. He was convicted in February 1998 of indecent assault and battery and had a previous conviction for open and gross behavior in 1995, according to the state's Sex Offender Registry Board.

The state considers Level 3 sex offenders the most dangerous because they are believed to commit sex crimes again.

Dawes said Vacher did not touch the two children at Target, but made the parents very nervous and uncomfortable as he stared at them. "One of the mothers was so concerned she actually pulled her 10-year-old daughter away," Dawes said.

Detectives Michael Elliott and Daniel Arrighi investigated and obtained the Target security video. The detectives and the women who reported the incident to police identified Vacher from the video, Dawes said.

"I had concerns that I felt had to be brought before the attention of the court," Dawes said.

Vacher was arrested without incident last Friday and was being held in jail pending his appearance in court today, Dawes said.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"

.........Sarah Tofte