Man faces 66 child endangerment counts

An East Moriches man was charged with 66 counts of endangering the welfare of a child and 66 counts of second-degree criminal contempt after police said he continued to contact an underage girl in violation of a court order.

Charles M. Kaeppel, 28, was arrested Tuesday by Southampton Town police following an investigation, police said.

Police did not release the age of the girl or say how Kaeppel knew her. They also did not release details of the court order.

Kaeppel was held overnight for arraignment Wednesday in Southampton Town Justice Court. The charges are misdemeanors, police said.