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Greencastle man arrested for child molesting
GREENCASTLE -- A Greencastle man was formally charged in Putnam County Circuit Court Wednesday with three counts of child molesting -- two Class A counts and one Class C count.
Judge Pro-Tem Trudy Selvia set bond for Billy Webster, 35, at $100,000 cash only and assigned public defender Melinda Jackman-Hanlin to Webster's case. Webster entered preliminary not guilty pleas, and a pretrial conference has been set for Nov. 5.
According to court documents, Webster is accused of fondling or having sexual intercourse with two female minors.
One of the alleged victims said Webster "would hurt her if she ever told anyone what had happened." That alleged victim told police the abuse began when she was 6 or 7 years old, and the last time Webster had molested her was in 2006, when she was in the sixth grade.
"She reported that during that time an allegation had been investigated and when she was questioned about the alleged abuse she lied, saying nothing ever happened," an affidavit of probable cause prepared by Greencastle Police Department Officer Randy Seipel said. "She told me that she lied because she was afraid of what (Webster) would do if she told."
The second alleged victim said Webster began abusing her when she was about 7 years old, and that "the last time he had sex with her she would have been 12 or 13," the affidavit said.
That alleged victim also told authorities she had been asked in the past about whether or not Webster had molested her and lied because "she is afraid of him," court documents said.
Interviews with the alleged victims were conducted late Tuesday afternoon. As soon as the interviews were concluded, a warrant was issued and Webster was apprehended at his home.
If convicted on all charges, Webster could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison.
In November 2007, Webster was convicted of Class B felony sexual misconduct with a minor. He received a suspended prison sentence of six years.
His criminal history in Putnam County includes charges of identity deception, criminal trespass and driving while suspended. At the time the child molestation charges were filed, he was on probation.