Greencastle man, 30, facing nine sexual-related felonies

Thursday, January 10, 2013
Scales

A 30-year-old Putnam County man is facing up to 276 years in prison and a maximum of $90,000 in fines after being charged with nine felonies involving sexual relations with an underage Greencastle girl.

Michael Kenneth Scales, Greencastle, made his initial appearance in Putnam Circuit Court Wednesday morning via video hook-up from the Putnam County Jail.

Judge Matthew Headley enumerated the nine felony charges filed against Scales -- four A felonies, three B felonies and two C felonies -- that allegedly occurred during the period of Jan. 18, 2010-Dec. 20, 2012.

Five of the alleged offenses occurred when the victim was 14 years old, while four allegedly took place when she was 15 or 16.

Scales is charged with five counts of child molesting, one involving allegations of sexual intercourse, three linked to alleged sexual deviate conduct and one involving reported fondling with an intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desires of the victim or the defendant.

Four counts alleged sexual misconduct with a minor involving intercourse, oral sex or alleged fondling or touching with the intent to arouse himself or the victim.

The last four crimes are alleged to have occurred after the girl's 15th birthday, hence the misconduct charges instead of child molesting.

"Do you understand these charges against you?" Judge Headley asked.

"Yes, I do, judge," Scales responded via the video screen in the courtroom.

The judge entered a not-guilty plea on all counts for the suspect, who was booked into the Putnam County Jail at 3:20 p.m. Jan. 5.

City Police Officer Eric Vaughan was called to Scales' Greencastle residence at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 4 on the report of a domestic disturbance and sexual assault.

In his statement included in the probable cause affidavit, GPD Det. Michael Collins said Scales initially denied all sexual contact with the girl before admitting to having sex with her "just one time on Dec. 20, 2012."

Under further interrogation, the suspect admitted to kissing, flirting, fondling, oral sex and intercourse occurring at a Castlebury apartment, a mobile home and his current residence, Collins stated.

"Michael was respectful during our talk," Det. Collins noted, "however he was caught in several lies" and "changed his story several times."

Scales, who said he has hired attorney Jeff Boggess as his legal counsel, is employed as a Department of Correction guard at the Putnamville Correctional Facility.

Judge Headley set bond at $40,000 cash (no 10 percent allowable), also imposing a no-contact order against Scales in regard to the alleged victim or anyone in her household.

A pretrial conference in the case was set for 10:30 am. Feb. 28.