Published: September 29, 2009 11:33 pm      

Sharpsville man charged with child molest

Monte Foutch faces 11 felony charges after 16-year-old tells police he molested her for 4 years

TIPTON — A Sharpsville man faces 11 felony charges after police arrested him Tuesday on a warrant alleging he repeatedly molested an underage girl over four years.

Tipton County Jail released Monte Joe Foutch, 65, 400 block of East Elm Street, Sharpsville, on $125,000 bail Tuesday after Indiana State Police arrested him earlier that morning.

According to state police, the arrest was part of a three-month investigation that resulted in one charge of criminal deviate conduct, a Class B felony, and 10 counts of child molest, a Class C felony.

In February 2005, the then-11-year-old girl moved in with Foutch and his wife.

Child protective services contacted state police in June 2009 reporting the now-16-year-old girl said Foutch began molesting her a few months after she moved in, according to Tipton County court records.

The first of the 10 molestations Foutch is charged with was in November 2005. The most recent was in July 2008, when the girl was 15, according to court records.

The girl told investigators Foutch would usually visit her bedroom when his wife was at work or asleep.

The alleged molestations involved inappropriate touching in most cases, according to court records. The girl told investigators Foutch tried to offer her money for oral sex, but she refused, according to records.

Foutch’s home phone number was not listed in the phone book, and he could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

An initial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 7 in Tipton County Circuit Court.

Under Indiana law, a Class B felony conviction can result in a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Class C felonies carry maximum sentences of eight years. Both felonies can also have fines of up to $10,000.

• Daniel Human is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He can be reached at (765) 454-8570 or at daniel.human@kokomotribune.com