COEUR d’ALENE — A 71-year-old retired aerospace worker from Post Falls was charged Tuesday in Coeur d’Alene’s First District Court with fondling children.

Barry E. Morgan was charged with one count of lewd conduct with children, a felony that carries penalties of up to life in prison.

Morgan is accused of inappropriately touching children and having children, some as young as 5 years old, touch him.

He gave the children candy in exchange for the favors, which he called secrets, according to police.

Neighbors became suspicious of Morgan, a former aerospace worker who moved to Post Falls after his retirement to be near family, after he took pictures of children in their bathing suits.

Police visited him last week after a neighbor reported an incident, but officers at the time said the activity didn’t meet the threshold of criminal activity.

Morgan is an amateur photographer and videographer, according to police.

After interviewing children and the parents of the alleged victims, Post Falls Police investigators interviewed Morgan at the police station, but he opted to have an attorney present, according to a report.

Police said Morgan confided to family members that he had fondled the children and allowed them to touch him. The incidents began about a month ago, police said. Family members said Morgan had also confided in his priest.

Post Falls Police arrested Morgan Saturday as he was on his way to his church in Coeur d’Alene. Morgan parked his vehicle and walked toward the church when officers detained him.

No bonding information was available Tuesday afternoon. If Morgan remains in jail, he will have a preliminary hearing within two weeks. If he posts bond, the hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to bind him over to district, or felony court, will be in 21 days.