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Greencastle man faces child molesting charge
A Greencastle man is facing a felony charge of child molesting for incidents that allegedly occurred five years ago, when he was 18 and the female victim was 12.
Derick S. Pemberton, 23, was charged in Putnam Circuit Court on Monday with Class B felony child molesting. Judge Matthew Headley issued a warrant for his arrest.
On Thursday afternoon, Det. Matt Huffman of the Greencastle Police Department took Pemberton into custody at an Avenue E residence and he was lodged at the Putnam County Jail.
The alleged incidents came to light in November when the accuser, who is a relative of Pemberton’s, revealed to her mother that she had been raped multiple times by Pemberton.
The incidents are alleged to have taken place in 2014, at two different Greencastle residences.
While the number of incidents is in question, the juvenile, who is not being identified due to the nature of the case, said that they tended to fall into a pattern. Pemberton would drink alcohol or smoke marijuana with her, after which they would have intercourse.
The juvenile told officers that she tried to get Pemberton to stop, but he would not.
Later questioned by Huffman, Pemberton eventually admitted that “something” had occurred between himself and the victim, though he said that due to intoxication at the time and the repeated use of drugs, he could not remember specific details.
Court records also indicate that Pemberton described the incidents as consensual, though with the girl’s age at the time, this would make little difference from a legal standpoint.
Pemberton also told Huffman that there were three incidents, while the girl said there were many more.
In the custody of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Pemberton made his initial appearance before Judge Headley on Friday, entering a not-guilty plea.
The judge issued a no-contact order with the victim, should Pemberton be released from custody.
Due to the alleged incidents beginning before July 1, 2014, the case is being charged under Indiana’s old felony classes.
A Class B felony is punishable by 6-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.