Cloverdale man arrested for molesting a child
GREENCASTLE -- Bond for a Cloverdale man accused of molesting a child has been set at $20,000 cash only.
Henry Owens, 54, remained in the Putnam County Jail Monday. He was arrested late last week, and faces a charge of Class C felony child molesting.
According to a report prepared by Putnam County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Jonathan Chadd, authorities were dispatched to the address of the alleged victim to investigate a possible sexual molesting incident involving a child.
The report said the alleged victim's mother was "crying and visibly upset."
Owens was also at the residence, the report said. Chadd spoke to the alleged victim's mother in private, and she told Chadd that the alleged victim had told her that Owens had recently "touched her in her private area," the report said.
The alleged victim, a 9-year-old girl, had been molested in the past and is a special needs child, the report said.
When Chadd interviewed the alleged victim, the girl reiterated that Owens had touched her genitals, the report said.
Chadd called the Putnam County Department of Child Services to report the alleged incident. After placing the call, he asked to speak with Owens.
After Chadd and Owens spoke, Chadd placed Owens under arrest.
At his initial hearing, Owens pled not guilty. He requested pauper counsel, and public defender Joel Wieneke was appointed to represent him.
A pretrial conference in the case has been set for Feb. 10.
Owens has no prior criminal history in Putnam County. In 2004, he was convicted in Montgomery County of Class A misdemeanor check deception.