Webster gets 20 years
GREENCASTLE -- A Greencastle man convicted on three felony child molesting charges has been handed a 20-year prison sentence.
Billy Webster, 36, was sentenced in Putnam County Circuit Court by Judge Matthew Headley.
Webster was sentenced to 20 years with 15 years executed and five years suspended on each of two Class B felony charges. He was sentenced to eight years, all suspended, on a Class C felony charge. Headley ordered that the sentences would run concurrently.
Webster has been in jail since his Sept. 16 arrest. He will receive credit for the 261 days he has served.
Webster was also deemed a sexually violent predator, which means upon his release he will have to register for inclusion on a state database. He can also have no contact with any child under the age of 18 with the exception of his minor son, with whom he will be allowed supervised visitation.
Webster's sentence came about as the result of a plea agreement -- the Class B felonies were originally Class A felonies, each of which would have been punishable by a maximum of 50 years.
Putnam County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long said he spoke to the victims and their families before the plea was offered to Webster, and that they were satisfied with it and did not want to have to testify at a trial.
Webster pled guilty to the charges on May 6. In court that day, he admitted to molesting three females under the ages of 14 between Jan. 1, 2003 and Sept. 16, 2009. Court documents said Webster threatened his victims, which is why they did not come forward about the molestation sooner.
In November 2007, Webster was convicted in Clay County of Class C felony sexual misconduct with a minor. He received a four-year sentence, and information on the Indiana Department of Correction Web site indicates he was released from custody on May 6, 2009.
Webster's criminal history in Putnam County includes charges of identity deception, criminal trespass and driving while suspended.
At the time the child molestation charges were filed, he was on probation.