Man pleads guilty in sex misconduct case

Friday, November 18, 2016
James Jason Campbell

A Cloverdale man facing felony charges of sexual misconduct involving a minor female less than half his age pleaded guilty Friday morning during a change-of-plea hearing in Putnam Superior Court.

In a plea agreement reached with the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office, James Jason Campbell, 37, pleaded guilty to the Level 4 felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor. That typically carries a sentencing range of 2-12 years in the Indiana Department of Correction.

Sentencing, however, was delayed at the request of defense attorney Austin Malayer, who asked Judge Denny Bridges to allow Campbell to remain in the Putnam County Jail an additional 60 days in order to complete a program he believes is benefiting him.

Agreeing, the judge set sentencing for 11 a.m. Jan. 20, at which time Bridges can accept or reject the plea agreement.

Under questioning Friday, Campbell admitted to having sexual intercourse with a girl older than 14 but less than 16 at the time.

The plea agreement suggests that the defendant be sentenced to eight years in the DOC with six years of the sentence executed and the balance suspended as formal probation.

Terms of Campbell’s probation are to be set by the court and Probation Office.

It was a Nov. 1, 2015 incident originally investigated as a rape that led to Campbell being arrested for sexual misconduct with a girl more than 20 years his junior.

Court documents state that the incident occurred in Campbell’s car parked in a small clearing or pull-off southwest of Cloverdale near the intersection of County Roads 1250 South and 100 West.

The 15-year-old victim’s mother had called authorities to report her daughter missing about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 1.

When the teenager returned home about three hours later, she told an older sister she had been raped. Police were notified about those allegations at 9:30 a.m., court documents show.

Capt. Tom Helmer of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Owen County deputies investigated, collecting evidence that included a towel stained with bodily fluids.

Campbell and the victim were considered “very good friends” and she routinely referred to him as “Uncle Jason” because of her family’s relationship with Campbell and his significant other, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.

Following the brief court appearance Friday, Campbell was remanded to the Putnam County Jail to await formal sentencing.