FARMINGTON - A Weld man posted $5,000 cash bail Thursday in connection with sex charges involving three girls under the age of 12.

Michael Keim, 64, of West Brook Road was arrested Wednesday night on three charges of unlawful sexual contact and one charge of assault, Franklin County Detective David St. Laurent said.

The alleged incidents occurred while the girls were on Calvary Hill Baptist Church retreats at Keim's home in 1999 and 2000. Keim, a church member who hosted many retreats, is prohibited from returning to the Wilton church, police said. His bail conditions also include no contact with anyone under the age of 18, St. Laurent said.

The alleged incidents were reported by a parent of two Franklin County girls to Wilton Police Chief Dennis Brown on Aug. 29. Subsequently, the town began a joint investigation with the sheriff's department, St. Pierre said.

"The girls, who were under 12 at the time, disclosed to their parents that while on a church retreat, Michael Keim inappropriately sexually touched them," the detective said.

Keim, contacted at Keim Publications in Weld on Thursday, declined to comment on the charges. Calvary Hill Baptist Church Pastor Barry Trask was unavailable for comment.

Keim is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Superior Court in Farmington on Nov. 13.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Sheriff's Department at 778-2680 or Wilton Police at 645-3876.