Plea agreement filed in child molesting case

Friday, May 7, 2010
Webster

GREENCASTLE -- A Greencastle man pled guilty in Putnam County Circuit Court Thursday to three counts of child molesting.

Billy Webster, 36, has been in jail since Sept. 16. He pled guilty to two Class A felony counts and one Class C felony count.

Judge Matthew Headley took a plea agreement in the case under advisement. Under the terms of the agreement, Webster would receive a 20-year sentence for the A felonies and an eight-year sentence on the C felony. The sentences would run concurrently, which means the total sentence for all three counts would be 20 years.

The agreement states that 15 years of the sentence would be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction, while the remaining five would be spent on probation.

Putnam County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long said the victims and their families were "happy with the agreement," as the victims did not want to have to testify at a trial.

In court Thursday, Webster admitted to having sexual relations with three females under the age of 14 between Jan. 1, 2003 and Sept. 16, 2009. Webster said he had put his fingers in the vagina of one victim, had sexual intercourse with another and fondled the third.

Court documents said Webster threatened his victims, which is why they did not come forward about the molestation sooner.

Webster will be sentenced on June 3. Although a plea agreement has been taken under advisement, Headley is under no obligation to adhere to it. Class A felonies are punishable by up to 50 years -- 20 years is the minimum sentence allowed by statute. The maximum sentence for a Class C felony is eight years.

At Webster's initial hearing, he pled not guilty and his bond was set at $100,000 cash only.

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.

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  • I think this is most likely a good thing. It will save the victims the stress of tesifying in front of the abuser.

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Fri, May 7, 2010, at 8:26 AM
  • Makes me absolutely sick to my stomach!!!

    -- Posted by roachdalekid on Fri, May 7, 2010, at 12:57 PM
  • Do we really need to hear graphic details like those in this article? My kids read, used to read the paper online, and so did my grandma. Call me old fashioned, but a little discretion never hurt anyone.

    -- Posted by mrshandy2010 on Fri, May 7, 2010, at 7:21 PM
  • I agree. The graphic details should not have been printed. These girls and their families have been through enough. Surely, it can't be helpful to them for these details to be discussed in the newspaper.

    -- Posted by Matthew 11:28 JESUS said... on Fri, May 7, 2010, at 9:04 PM
  • I see he was also convicted of a "B" felony in 2007 and was given a suspended prison sentence. Thanks goes out to whoever the judge was for letting him off to do this again. We sure do need more judges like this, don't we Putnam County?

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Mon, May 10, 2010, at 7:56 AM
  • That sentence came down in an Owen County Case!

    -- Posted by hardtobelieve on Mon, May 10, 2010, at 8:58 AM
  • His prior case was in Clay County. The Banner should have clarified that.

    -- Posted by LTSmash on Mon, May 10, 2010, at 10:03 AM
  • Owen County or Clay County, the fact remains, he was still out on the street to do this again. Disgusting!!!

    -- Posted by whodouthinkur on Mon, May 10, 2010, at 1:23 PM
  • Great job to Putnam County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long for once again making sure another young girl(s) doesn't have to relive the horror they have been through. My heart goes out to the girls and their families and I pray that with time and counseling they will heal and be able to overcome this and live happy lives.

    On the downside of this story all I am gonna say is "TOO MUCH DETAIL" If these young girls didn't want to have to relive their horrors in they courtroom, why would the paper take it upon themselves to print such details?

    -- Posted by clovermom on Mon, May 10, 2010, at 9:09 PM
  • Gotta agree with the others.Ms.Barrand, in the position of "Editor" should have the training/education or at least the sense/or couth to realize we dont need those details in order to read and understand the story.Her choice to list the sickening and personal details is very uneeded and tacky. Most importantly,these children were already victomized once,no sense in adding to their trauma.Hopefully the "EDITOR" will re read this article,guage the size of the readership and the community,add the ages of victoms and the damage already inflicted and come up with a understanding that helps to use better sense and judgement in the future. As for "mister,I cant meet and make grown up relationships so I prey on easier targets" just wanna say, dont let Bubba find you to be a easier target behind cell doors.... I'm sure you would hate being on the other side of it..

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Mon, May 10, 2010, at 11:45 PM
  • i agree with honestyisbestpolicy....this article is ridiculous. I think we know exactly what he did to those girls. No need in reliving it. Glad he is behind bars.

    -- Posted by proudemt on Wed, May 12, 2010, at 9:10 AM
  • Put a bullet in his head and charge the family for it!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Wed, May 12, 2010, at 4:34 PM
  • His sentence in clay co. was not suspended.He ufortunately had no prior record.sentenced to six,two susp.,the low life served only two years.clay co. did more than put.co.,couldn't even get a protective order from lowe.he's done this to several girls,for several years.i do feel bad for his his children,but his wife could have and should have spoke about him.she saw it as the girls fault,to bad she can't be charged also.it was a family of mine he did this to so i do what i'm saying.he should never be freed.

    -- Posted by redrose2 on Fri, May 14, 2010, at 7:46 PM
  • The Reaper is watching

    -- Posted by gate_keeper on Tue, May 18, 2010, at 9:05 AM
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