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Registered sex offender arrested for child molesting
Already a registered sex offender, a Reelsville man stands accused of child molestation in an April incident.
On Wednesday, the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges of Level 4 felony child molesting against 51-year-old Larry R. Owens.
A warrant was issued and Owens was booked in the Putnam County Jail at 11:45 a.m. Thursday.
In the latest incident, Owens is accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old female at her family home where Owens had allegedly been staying for a few months.
Upon the initial report by the girl, police began investigating and discovered that Owens had an outstanding warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.
He was arrested by Putnam County sheriff’s deputies and booked in the Putnam County Jail for that offense on April 19, two days after the alleged incident.
Owens remained in jail until May 11, at which time he began reporting to Putnam County Adult Probation. During that time, Prosecutor’s Office Investigator David Meadows commenced his investigation, which include interviews of three adults and the alleged victim.
Meadows also interviewed Owens upon his release from jail. During the interview, Owens alleged a flirtatious relationship with the girl.
He eventually admitted to the inappropriate touching, “but told himself that he knew that this wasn’t right.”
In 2011, Owens was given a nine-year sentence for Class B felony sexual misconduct with a minor. He remained in the Indiana Department of Correction until February 2015.
The original incident involved a 15-year-old girl.
A Level 4 felony carries a sentencing range of 2-12 years.