Richard & Timothy Hobbs, father and son, were arrested Friday afternoon in Jackson County on child molesting charges.
Timothy E. Hobbs, 41, of 224 S. Perry St., Medora was charged with five counts of child molesting. His father, Richard E. Hobbs, 60, of 1871 E. CR. 25 N, Browntown was charged with three counts of child molesting and one count of attempoted child molesting.
Jackson County Prosecutor Rick Poynter and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Amy Travis reviewed the case and formally requested arrest warrants to be issued out of the Jackson County Circuit Court for Child Molestation.
Preliminary investigations, by Detective Roger G. Drew II and Jan Graves, with the assistance of the Jackson County Division of Family and Children, revealed that on January 14, a 13-year-old girl claimed that Timothy Hobbs had been sexually abusing her since she was in the second grade. The abuse only ended recently when she confided in a relative, who contacted Indiana State Police.
During the course of the investigation, she also alleged that Richard Hobbs had been sexually abusing her.
The Indiana State Police encourage parents, friends, and family members to educate their children on what to do if someone touches them inappropriately.
“Make sure they know, it is okay to tell a “trusted” adult, such as a parent, teacher, counselor, doctor, minister or a police officer. If you happen to be the adult they tell, it is your responsibility to notify the appropriate authorities,” said Drew.
Officers assisting with the arrest: Detective Roger Drew, Jan Graves, Master Trooper Dave McKalip and Lieutenant Andy Wayman with the Jackson County Sheriffs Department.
