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ANDERSON Former Madison County Councilor Steve Sumner faces up to 57 years in jail if convicted of rape and 12 other counts.
The additional charges were filed Wednesday against Sumner, 52, who now faces a total of 13 criminal charges for alleged sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.
If convicted, Sumner faces a sentence of 10 to 57 years and fines of up to $ 120,000.
The most serious charge is rape as a level 3 crime.
New prosecution information for the rape charge indicates that between July 1, 2020 and August 4, 2020, Sumner knowingly or intentionally had sexual contact with a girl under the age of 16 when the person was coerced by force or imminence. threat of force.
After his arrest in December, Sumner said he was innocent of the charges.
The state has requested that a new bond be set by Special Judge Jeffrey Todd of the Grant County Superior Court 1.
Following an investigation by Indiana State Police and the FBI, the Madison County District Attorney’s Office filed Level 6 felony charges against Sumner on December 21.
He was first arrested on criminal charges of soliciting children and possession of child pornography, both level 6 felonies.
Sumner was elected to Madison County Council from District 2 in 2018 and resigned his council seat in May.
He was also pastor of Lighthouse Church in Anderson.
Probable cause also indicates that on several occasions Sumner would open the curtain when the girl was taking a shower and at one point he got in the shower and asked the girl to wash off the soap for him.
Investigators obtained forensic information from Sumners and the girls’ cell phones. On Sumners’ cell phone, investigators found numerous images and videos of a naked young woman.
The girl said all but two of the photographs were of her, taken in 2019 or early 2020, according to prosecution information.
The girl told investigators Sumner told her he looked at the footage and it turned him on.
She also said that in August 2020, Sumner walked into her bedroom, asked her to get on the bed and touched her upper thigh with a vibrator while everyone else slept in the house.
Several text messages showed that Sumner had offered the girl alcohol and cigarettes from last August.
The original probable cause affidavit filed by Indiana State Police alleges Sumner committed sexual acts on a girl under the age of 16 in the past two years. The girl told investigators that Sumner provided her with an alcoholic drink.
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.
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Sources 2/ https://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/local_news/court-records-outline-allegations-against-sumner/article_0cdc236a-e62e-11eb-b50f-b330200aeca7.html The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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