Sex misconduct suspect arrested, makes court appearance

One of two 40-year-old men charged in separate sex-related cases involving 14-year-old girls made his initial court appearance Monday afternoon in Putnam Superior Court.

Jonathan M. Steele, of Coatesville (Heritage Lake), who has been charged with one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, entered a not-guilty plea during his appearance before Judge Pro Tem Trudy Selvia.

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

Steele, who was arrested Sunday morning and lodged in the Putnam County Jail, was ordered held on $20,000 cash-only bond.

Judge Selvia named Austin Malayer as Steele's court-appointed legal counsel.

A no-contact order with the alleged Greencastle victim was requested by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Justin Long and granted by Selvia.

Steele was one of two men who were named in arrest warrants Friday after the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office filed charges in two similar but separate sex-related cases.

In the Steele case, the reported victim's mother told police about what was characterized as an "inappropriate relationship" between her daughter and the suspect.

What began as apparently innocent phone calls talking about church and softball escalated into a "romantic relationship," the girl's mother told Greencastle Police.

She turned over handwritten letters, allegedly from Steele, found hidden in her daughter's bedroom. Those reportedly led her to believe a physical relationship had developed.

During a follow-up investigation by Det. Sgt. Michael Collins, both the suspect and the alleged victim admitted that Steele has kissed the 14-year-old and had fondled her.

In a similar Putnam Circuit Court case, an arrest warrant has been issued for Chawn L. Weimer, also 40, of Indianapolis. He remained at large as of Monday afternoon

Weimer has been charged with one count of child solicitation, a Level 5 felony, and one count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony. The Level 5 felony carries a sentencing range of 1-6 years in the DOC, while the Level 6 is good for 6-30 months in prison.

Indiana State Police investigated Weimer after Indiana Department of Child Services reported on March 21 that a 14-year-old female was allegedly involved with the suspect -- a former classmate of her father -- and had been referring to him as her boyfriend. The suspect was reportedly well aware of the girl's young age.

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

In an April interview with police, 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 said he was "usually high" when he did such things, resulting in him making poor decisions, the probable cause document noted.

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