April 07, 2005

Ex-church aide charged with molesting

INDIANA
Indianapolis Star

By Tania E. Lopez
tania.e.lopez@indystar.com
April 7, 2005

A 43-year-old former youth director at a North Salem church is being held in jail accused of molesting his daughter's 12-year-old friend during a sleep over.

The Hendricks County prosecutor has charged Richard E. Smith of Danville with one felony count of child molesting deviate sexual conduct after police said the girl, now 13, just told her mother about the incident that occurred nearly five months ago.

The girl said the incident occurred sometime between the end of September or early October during a sleep over at Smith's home. It was the only the time the girl was an overnight guest, police said.

According to court documents, Smith entered the bedroom the girl was sleeping in around 3 a.m. after she fell asleep in his younger son's bedroom watching TV.

Smith, according to the girl, laid down on the bed she was sharing with his son, reached over the boy and molested her.

After Smith left the room, the girl told police she ran to her friend's room where she spent the rest of the night.

Posted by kshaw at April 7, 2005 03:49 PM