Special judge appointed in molesting case

Parke County Circuit Court Judge Sam A. Swaim will replace Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley, who recused himself on Oct. 26 from the case against William E. Norlin.

Norlin, 54, is charged with two counts of Class C felony child molesting, one count of Class C felony sexual misconduct with a minor and Class D felonies performing sexual misconduct in the presence of a minor, child seduction and sexual battery.

Headley has twice rejected proposed plea agreements in the case. The first agreement, rejected July 16, called for Norlin to plead guilty to the Class D sexual misconduct charge in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges. The second agreement, rejected Oct. 22, would have dismissed all other charges in exchange for Norlin's guilty plea to the sexual battery charge.

Norlin's trial is set to begin on Feb. 10. Norlin's attorney, James Holder, filed a motion on Nov. 13 to continue the trial, but no decision has been entered on that motion.

If convicted on all charges, Norlin could face up to 33 years in prison.

The charges against Norlin stem from a joint investigation conducted by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department and Putnam County Child Protective Services. According to court documents, Norlin committed acts of a sexual nature on a teenage girl multiple times over the course of several years.

He was arrested Jan. 22. He posted a $25,000 cash bond and was released from jail four days later.