Warrants issued for two men in sex cases involving 14-year-old minors

Friday, June 3, 2016

The Putnam County Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against two 40-year-old men in separate sex-related cases in which the reported victim was a 14-year-old girl.

On Friday, an arrest warrant was issued for Jonathan M. Steele, of Coatesville (Heritage Lake), who has been charged in Putnam Superior Court with one count of sexual misconduct with a minor.

That Level 5 felony carries a sentencing range of 1-6 years in the Department of Correction (DOC).

Earlier this week in a similar case in Putnam Circuit Court, an arrest warrant was issued for Chawn L. Weimer, of Indianapolis, who has been charged with one count of child solicitation, a Level 5 felony, and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors.

That Level 6 felony carries a sentencing range of 6-30 months in the DOC.

In the Steele case, Greencastle Sgt. Ed Wilson conducted the initial investigation regarding what the mother of a 14-year-old Greencastle girl considered an "inappropriate relationship" between her daughter and the suspect.

What appeared to begin as phone calls talking about church and softball has escalated into a "romantic relationship," the alleged victim's mother told police.

The mother turned over a couple of handwritten letters, allegedly from the suspect, found hidden in her daughter's bedroom that led her to believe a physical relationship had developed between the girl and Steele.

Det. Sgt. Michael Collins conducted a follow-up investigation, interviewing both the suspect and the alleged victim. They both subsequently admitted that Steele has kissed the 14-year-old and inappropriately touched her.

Collins then sent the case to the prosecutor, recommending a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor be reviewed.

In the Weimer case, Det. Sgt. Samuel J. Stearley of the Indiana State Police began to investigate after it was reported to the Indiana Department of Child Services on March 21 that a 14-year-old female was involved with the Indianapolis man -- a former classmate of her father -- and had been referring to him as her boyfriend. She reportedly said the suspect was well aware of her age.

The girl admitted sending five or six nude photographs of herself to the 40-year-old, who in turn sent three or four nude photos of himself to the girl, the probable cause affidavit notes.

In a separate interview in April, Weimer admitted kissing the girl at a movie in Brownsburg and exchanging inappropriate photos after the reported victim "begged" him to do so. The girl was reportedly at her grandmother's residence in Putnam County when the photos were exchanged via cell phone.

Weimer also reported being a heroin addict and noted that he was "usually high" when he did such things, resulting in him making poor decisions, Sgt. Stearley's probable cause document noted.