Fillmore man charged with child molesting in incident at Brazil park
BRAZIL -- A 19-year-old Putnam County man was arrested early Monday on allegations of child molesting, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.
Fillmore resident Zachary Lee Benassi was taken into custody in Greencastle at 2:19 a.m. Monday. He was incarcerated in the Clay County Jail for one count of child molesting, a Class B felony.
Bond was set at $25,000 with no 10 percent allowed.
The Clay County incident in question reportedly involved a 13-year-old female acquaintance from Brazil, State Police said.
The investigation began May 11 when ISP detectives were made aware of the allegations against Benassi by the Brazil Police Department.
During the course of the investigation, information and evidence led detectives to believe that on the afternoon of April 23, Benassi reportedly coerced the young female into sexual relations at Forest Park in Brazil.
Days later, a member of the victim's family reported the alleged incident to the Brazil Police Department.
The case was investigated by ISP Det. Sam Stearley. Assisting were ISP detectives First Sgt. Jeff Hearon and James Dungan.