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Cloverdale man, 37, charged in sex misconduct case with girl, 15
A 37-year-old Cloverdale man is facing felony charges in a sexual misconduct case involving a Poland girl more than 20 years his junior.
James Jason Campbell made his initial appearance in court Wednesday afternoon before Putnam Superior Court Judge Denny Bridges.
Campbell is charged with a Level 4 felony count of sexual misconduct with a minor, which carries a sentencing range of 2-12 years in the Indiana Department of Correction.
Judge Bridges entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of Campbell, who has been charged in a Nov. 1, 2015 incident that was originally investigated as a rape.
The incident reportedly occurred in Campbell's vehicle parked in a small clearing near the intersection of County Roads 1250 South and 100 West southwest of Cloverdale.
The reported victim's mother had called authorities about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 1 to report her 15-year-old daughter as missing.
After the teenager returned home about 5:30 that morning, she reportedly confided in an older sister that she had been raped. Police were notified about those allegations at 9:30 a.m., court documents show.
Capt. Tom Helmer of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department and Owen County deputies investigated, collecting evidence that included a towel stained with bodily fluids.
Campbell and the victim were "very good friends" and she routinely referred to him as "Uncle Jason," according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.
In court Wednesday, Judge Bridges authorized a no-contact order against Campbell in regard to the victim and her family.
He then asked Chief Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long for a bond recommendation in the case.
"Based on the level of the offense (a Level 4 felony) and (Campbell having) a couple of priors, including a felony," Long recommended a $30,000 cash-only bond.
Campbell, who earlier said he would hire an attorney to represent him, seemed shaken by the bond request.
"I can't afford $30,000 cash," he told the judge.
That didn't sway Bridges, who had heard the same refrain from two or three earlier defendants Wednesday afternoon.
"When you hire an attorney, talk to them about that," he advised Campbell. "There are bond alternatives."
In the meantime, Campbell was returned to the Putnam County Jail where he will await an 11 a.m. pretrial conference on May 11.