Aspiring home remodeling show personality accused of molesting girl

Associated Press

Show Caption Hide Caption HGTV hopeful arrested for alleged sexual assault of child The star of a TV show pilot that once aired on HGTV has been arrested and charged with the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl at his Old Lyme, Connecticut, home, police confirm to PEOPLE

OLD LYME, Conn. — An aspiring TV personality who has appeared on home remodeling reality shows has been accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl.

Christopher Dionne, of Old Lyme, Conn., has appeared on a more than 2-year-old pilot of the HGTV show Family Flip and a yet-to-be-aired A&E show called House Rescue and turned himself in to police Monday to face charges of sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

Police say the 36-year-old Dionne is accused of touching the girl's chest when she was sleeping over after a birthday party for her friend. Dionne also is accused of taking pictures of the girl's chest and asking if she wanted to see his penis.

Dionne says the girl put her hand on his stomach and began rubbing and he told her it was inappropriate.

A&E says it has suspended production of House Rescue. HGTV said in an emailed statement to The Courant in Hartford that Dionne had appeared as a host in a pilot for Family Flip more than two years ago.

“The person you reference in your inquiry appeared in a pilot that premiered on our network more than 2½ years ago. The pilot was not picked up for series and is no longer on our air,” HGTV said to the Courant.