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Accused molester has initial hearing

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
By KEVIN CRAFTON, Staff Writer

Alleged child molester Terrell Britton went before Judge Matt Headley Monday afternoon for his initial hearing.

Headley called Britton to the defendant's chair just before 3 p.m. and read through the 14 charges -- six of which were Class A felonies -- making sure Britton understood.

Britton pled not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter pursued a $100,000 cash bond due to the severity of the allegations. When Headley approved of the bond terms, he pointed out to Britton that Bookwalter was fair in requesting this due to each Class A Felony generally being $50,000 and he had six.

The court appointed public defender James Recker for Britton.

Britton was also told that should he post bond, he was not to have any contact with his four alleged victims, whose initials were read due to their being minors.

Britton's pre-trial date was set for July 31 at 8 a.m.

Britton faces six Class A felonies, six Class D felonies and two Class A misdemeanors for his alleged involvement in sexual misconduct with four minors.

The two misdemeanor counts are for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

The remaining 12 counts are all various sexual misconduct charges.

For each Class A felony, Britton faces a maximum of 50 years and the Class B felonies carry a maximum of 20 years according to Indiana State Law. Both Class A and B felonies also carry a maximum $10,000 fine.

Britton's initial hearing was originally scheduled for Thursday, but he had a seizure on the courthouse steps on the way to it.

Britton told Judge Headley that he has a prior criminal record in Florida. However, the terms of this criminal history were not discussed in the proceedings.

He also informed the court of his seizure condition when asked if he has any medical conditions.

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  • Time to bring the rope back to the courthouse square! I am sick of child molesters walking our streets, how does he get 14 counts before the initial hearing??

    -- Posted by HelloMcFly on Tue, Jun 17, 2008, at 7:51 AM

  • Great let this trash be able to post bond so he can be free to do whatever he wants. Unbelievable!!!!! please make sure your children are with you at all times!!!!!!

    -- Posted by flygal026 on Tue, Jun 17, 2008, at 8:51 AM

  • It's all about making money!!! How fare is that to innocent people?!

    -- Posted by what_it's_worth on Tue, Jun 17, 2008, at 10:57 AM

  • Well for what_its_worth, you must be related to the perv......The bond was set for so much that he could'nt be able to post. It's not about the money it's for the safety of other children and maybe even your own. He is not innocent and believe me when I say this, I'm doing a little investigating of my own to find his child. It's not real hard to find someone if you have a credit card. Wonder if thats the reason he could care less about his and others? You can't believe this man is innocent with all that he has been charged with. Believe me the Police have done their home work, endless hours I might add. So hold on it's not over yet.

    -- Posted by sadandmad on Tue, Jun 17, 2008, at 1:38 PM

  • Right above the place to enter comments it says "Please be respectful of others and try to stay on topic." The topic, I believe, was the balance of fairness in setting bond versus the safety and security of the general public or the potential for flight risk. A cass A felony is a serious charge, and therefore deserves a higher bond in lieu of mitigating circumstances, which are apparently lacking in this case.

    However, it is only a serious 'charge.' The state must still prove the validity of that charge and, in case you've forgotten, defendents charged with crimes in this particular country are presumed innocent until the state accompishes their task.

    I have served on the jury of just such a case, and found the state somewhat lacking in their proof, owing to a failure to fully invstigate. So, at the risk of being presumed a 'relative' of a 'perv,' I'll just advise you that 'trial by presumption' can only result in a 'not guilty' judgement.

    Unless you, sadandmad, are someone authorized to conduct an investigation into the whereabouts of the defendent's child, you have no authorization to do so, and one might question whether or not you, as an unauthorized seeker of other folks children, are not a 'perv' yourself.

    -- Posted by chp on Tue, Jun 17, 2008, at 4:12 PM

  • Society has always had child molesters. In the old days it was hid in the closet-to much of an embarasement to the family of the child-they just kept quiet about it and kept their child away from that person-that is even if the child told the parent. Many adults today of all age groups have been molested and never talked about it. Thank god something is finally being done to help protect out children and our children feel free to report it.

    -- Posted by peace2019 on Tue, Jun 17, 2008, at 4:56 PM

  • 'sadandmad'

    I think you need to read the comments starting from the bottom. NO I'm NOT related to this scum.

    The man shouldn't even have a bond. You do all your research that you want. I'll leave it all up to the law/courts to do their research,they don't have to use a credit card.

    -- Posted by what_it's_worth on Tue, Jun 17, 2008, at 9:25 PM

  • Well chazm_vet I happen to know this piece of crap of a person and I'm shamded to say this. I know he has a son about 27 and its not against the law to look for someone.Thanks to the inter-net and people search engines. I'm not a perverted person, I would say more concerned of the health and safety of others and their children.

    You are right though about letting the police do their work so I have forwarded all the information that I have found over to the proper people. So my investigation is over. I'll wait like everybody else and let the Law do what needs to be done. Mean while this man is scum and a preditor and needs to remain in prison for LIFE. So he can't hurt anyone, anymore.

    -- Posted by sadandmad on Thu, Jun 19, 2008, at 9:12 AM

  • Gee, seems like sadandmad has a personal interest is this case. Sorry if this is your family. Understand your rage. As much as you love and want to defend the teenagers he has been accused of hurting, let the court do its job. That is why the courts are there, to get to the truth, punish the guilty, and release the innocent. Now, if someone gives false testimony, or information to the police or prosecutor, they can and will be prosecuted. Same thing makes you laugh, makes you cry

    -- Posted by upstart on Fri, Jun 20, 2008, at 7:57 PM
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