HGTV pilot host molested daughter's 10-year-old best friend while his two children slept in the same room
A former host of an HGTV home remodeling pilot who allegedly molested his daughter's best friend, 10, at his Connecticut residence has now been found guilty in a New London Superior Court.
'Family Flip' star Christopher Dionne was convicted on charges of risk of injury to a minor and fourth-degree sexual assault, People reports. According to the report, the 37-year-old will be released on a $100,000 bond before appearing in court for sentencing on December 11.
Christoper and his twin brother Michael starred in 'Family Flip', which ran for just one episode in 2015. "The individual referenced appeared in a pilot that premiered on our network in 2015," an HGTV spokesperson said in a statement. "The pilot was not picked up for series." Meanwhile, A&E announced they had suspended production of a show starring Dionne.
The now 12-year-old victim testified during the trial how she was best friends with Dionne's daughter when he sexually abused her. According to her, they were on the same soccer team and would have sleepovers at each other's houses on a regular basis.
At a birthday sleepover at Dionne's house in November 2017, Dionne apparently touched the young girl inappropriately. The victim recounted how at around 1:30 am she was sleeping on her belly when Dionne placed his hand on her buttocks under her pajamas. She added that Dionne proceeded to feel her up under her bra and jiggled her chest before taking a photo of her on his cellphone.
The child said he molested her twice on the night, several hours apart, while his 14-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter were in the room sleeping while it happened.
According to her, he asked her during the assault if she was a "big girl or a little girl" and whether she wanted to see his genitals. "If you tell your mom, I'll go to jail and (my daughter) won't have a daddy," Dionne reportedly told the victim. Dionne returned to his room after the young girl rejected his advances.
Earlier in September the same year, Dionne is alleged to have assaulted the girl asking her if she wanted to kiss his genitals.
The victim was forced to sever her friendship with Dionne's daughter following the assault.