Rush County fireman, special deputy charged with child sex crimes
A Rush County law enforcement official who works with the sheriff’s department and Rushville Fire Department has been charged with sex crimes against children.
Child Pornography
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Fort Wayne officer who worked at school charged with child seduction
A northeastern Indiana police officer has been charged with child seduction after authorities say he had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl at a school where he worked. Indiana State Police announced charges against Fort Wayne police Sgt. Andrew Beck that also include possession of child pornography.
Appeals court rejects sexually violent predator’s habeas petition
A man convicted of repeated child sex offenses must continue to register as a sexually violent predator, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday, rejecting his habeas corpus petition that asserted he was being subjected to unlawful lifetime parole.
Ex-IUPUI volleyball coach gets probation for child porn
A former college volleyball coach from Indianapolis has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to possessing sexually explicit images and videos of young girls. A Marion County judge recently sentenced Steven Payne to four years of probation and barred him from having internet access at home or work.
Ex-prep diving coach gets 4 years for sex with teens
A former assistant diving coach at a northwest Indiana high school has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with two 15-year-old female students and keeping partially nude photographs of each girl on his cellphone.
Billionaire financier Epstein due in court over sex charges
Wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is due in court after his arrest in New York on new underage sex-trafficking charges involving allegations that date to the early 2000s, according to law enforcement officials.
Ex-Ball State professor gets reversal on three child porn convictions
A former Ball State math professor convicted of child pornography and exploitation charges last year will have three of his convictions reversed after the Indiana Court of Appeals found some of the images of nude children he possessed did not explicitly depict “sexual conduct.”
Man charged in school bomb threats facing sextortion charges
A California man charged with making online threats to bomb two suburban Indianapolis high schools is facing new federal charges involving alleged sextortion and intimidation.
Ex-Goodwill worker gets prison for recording bathroom videos at Fishers store
A former Goodwill employee has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for secretly recording bathroom videos of workers at a suburban Indianapolis store. Ritchie Hodges was given his punishment Thursday.
Collector of some 1,000 child-porn images keeps 10-year sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed a man’s sentence and convictions for child exploitation and possession of child pornography when it found the heinousness of his crimes warranted the sentence.
Indiana man gets life for sexually exploiting 3 children
Federal prosecutors in Indiana say a man has received a life sentence for sexually exploiting three children, including a young girl in Ireland. U.S. prosecutors said Thursday that 37-year-old Ricky Dean Clark was sentenced to a life term without a chance for parole for offenses involving sexual exploitation, coercion and enticement of a child and child pornography.
7th Circuit upholds child porn prison sentence
A Bedford man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of child porn has failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to order a resentencing, with the court finding that the terms of the man’s plea agreement were not breached.
Indigent man ordered to pay $5,000, guilty plea waiver valid
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s imposition of a $5,000 special assessment to a man, despite the discovery that he was indigent, finding no evidence to suggest his waiver was invalid.
First-ever child porn suspect on FBI list pleads guilty
The first-ever child pornography suspect named to the FBI’s Most Wanted list had Indiana ties and once had been the keyboardist for Hoosier rocker John Mellencamp.
Inspector general reviews FBI handling of Nassar claims
The Justice Department’s inspector general is investigating how the FBI handled sexual abuse allegations against former USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
Nassar’s 60-year child porn sentence upheld
A federal appeals court has upheld disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar’s 60-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography and destroying evidence. A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati denied Nassar’s appeal Wednesday.
Judge to hear Nassar’s request that she disqualify herself
A judge who sentenced disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar to prison for molesting girls will hold a hearing on a request that she disqualify herself from his appeal of the sentence. Nassar’s court-appointed appellate lawyers said the judge was biased, citing comments such as saying she would allow someone “to do to him what he did to others” if the constitution allowed.
Lawyers: Nassar attacked in prison, deserves resentencing
Larry Nassar’s attorneys say the disgraced former sports doctor was assaulted within hours of being placed in the general population at the federal prison in Arizona where he is serving a 60-year sentence for child pornography possession.
Snapchat images are probative evidence, COA rules
The ability to take a screenshot and save images on Snapchat is probative evidence in charging a man with child pornography, the Indiana Court of appeals ruled in affirming a Henry County man’s conviction Tuesday.
Carmel swim coach faces federal charges for child porn, sexual exploitation of a minor
A suburban Indianapolis swim coach is facing federal charges alleging he shot video of himself having sex with one of his athletes. Prosecutors said Thursday that 29-year-old John C. Goelz has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.