Putnamville detectives arrest Brazil man for child molesting
PUTNAMVILLE -- Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post have arrested a Clay County man for various sexual allegations involving a young female victim.
The victim is 13 years old now, but the alleged violations occurred when she was age five to 10, authorities said.
Arrested at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, James S. Morris, 67, of Brazil, was lodged in the Clay County Jail on four felony charges:
-- Child molesting, a Class C felony.
-- Vicarious sexual gratification, a Class C felony.
-- Dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Class D felony.
-- Child solicitation, a Class D felony.
The investigation began on Jan. 3 of this year after the Indiana Department of Child Services in Putnam County contacted the Putnamville Post for investigative assistance with a child molesting case.
Through their investigation, State Police detectives believe that on more than one occasion -- beginning when the young female victim was five and until she reached the age of 10 -- Morris reportedly fondled her, forced her to perform sexual acts on him, and provided her with pornographic images of various kinds via computer.
Those activities all reportedly occurred at the suspect's Brazil home. The victim was a relative of Morris's at the time, authorities said.
The case was investigated by ISP Detectives First Sgt. Jeff Hearon, Sam Stearley and Chris Carter.
Assisting in the investigation were the Putnam County office of the Indiana Department of Child Services and Susie's Place Child Advocacy Center in Avon.