Niskayuna, NY – A 33-year-old man charged with felony predatory sexual assault has admitted that he is the father of an 11-year-old girl’s infant, but argued that she actually impregnated herself.

Robert Cronin, a father of six, denied allegations that he ever had sex with the unnamed preteen girl.

“When I found out, everything around me just collapsed because I knew what this would lead to,” Cronin told WRGB during an interview at the Schenectady County Jail. “I don’t want to be known for a crime I didn’t commit.”

Niskayuna police were alerted to the incident after the little girl delivered a baby at Bellevue Women’s Center in November, WTEN reported.

A DNA test confirmed that the newborn’s father is Cronin.

Cronin said that the 11-year-old girl managed to impregnate herself using a piece of clothing he had masturbated into, and that the police are simply lacking in scientific knowledge, WTEN reported.

A WTEN reporter pointed out that Cronin’s explanation for the conception seemed very implausible.

“Not according to medical science,” he weakly argued. “Not according to the people that deal with fertility treatments and artificial insemination. Not according to a majority of the medical science community.”

In addition to the predatory sexual assault offense, Cronin was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and is being held without bail.

Cronin and his fiancé have five children. The nature of his relationship with the 11-year-old victim was not released, but police said she is known to him.

The little girl and her infant are both in a safe location and being cared for, police said.

“It’s an impossible role shift for an 11-year-old,” Child psychologist Dr. Rudy Nydegger told WGRB. “Impossible in the sense that biologically she’s a mother, and she’s not even ready to be an adult.”

Many child sexual abuse victims who receive help go on to live healthy lives, but the trauma they endured can’t be erased, he said.

“This will never go away. She will always have this behind her,” Nydegger said.

Cronin does not appear to have a criminal record, Niskayuna Deputy Police Chief Michael Stevens told the Times Union.

His preliminary court hearing is scheduled for Friday.