Child solicitation suspect appears in court

Thursday, June 9, 2016
Chawn Weimer

A 40-year-old Indianapolis man accused of carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl appeared in Putnam Circuit Court Thursday morning.

Senior Judge Ray Kirtley entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of Chawn L. Weimer, who is charged with one count of child solicitation, a Level 5 felony, and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony.

Prosecutor Timothy Bookwalter requested the advisory $20,000 bond for a Level 5 felony, leaving the matter of 10 percent cash allowed up to Judge Kirtley. The retired Montgomery County judge considered the matter before choosing to allow 10 percent.

A no-contact order between Weimer and the alleged victim was also ordered.

Weimer is represented in the case by Bloomington attorney Jacob Moore.

A Level 5 felony carries a sentencing range of 1-6 years in the Department of Correction, while a Level 6 felony carries a range of 6-30 months.

Det. Sgt. Samuel J. Stearley of the Indiana State Police began to investigate Weimer after it was reported to the Indiana Department of Child Services on March 21 that a 14-year-old female was involved with the Indianapolis man -- a former classmate of her father -- and had been referring to him as her boyfriend.

She reportedly said the suspect was well aware of her age.

The girl admitted sending five or six nude photographs of herself to the 40-year-old, who in turn sent three or four nude photos of himself to the girl, the probable cause affidavit notes.

In a separate interview in April, Weimer admitted kissing the girl at a movie in Brownsburg and exchanging inappropriate photos after the reported victim "begged" him to do so. The girl was reportedly at her grandmother's residence in Putnam County when the photos were exchanged via cell phone.

Weimer also reported being a heroin addict and noted that he was "usually high" when he did such things, resulting in him making poor decisions, Sgt. Stearley's probable cause document noted.