A Greenwood man was convicted of child molesting and now faces up to 16 years in prison.
Michael Mehringer, 34, was convicted of the Level 3 felony in a one-day bench trial in late August.
A bench trial is when a judge decides whether a defendant is guilty, rather than a jury of residents. Mehringer was tried in Johnson Circuit Court by Judge Andy Roesener.
A teenage girl, under 14 years-old, told police Mehringer had touched her inappropriately three times in late 2017.
Mehringer had told the girl not to tell anyone, but then he told the girl’s mother. He had said he was drunk when the incidents happened, but the girl said she didn’t smell any alcohol on him, according to court documents.
The girl and her mother reported the incidents to police in early 2018. He was arrested in August of 2018 and taken to the Johnson County Jail.
He was immediately arrested upon his conviction. His sentencing is set for Sept. 16. A Level 3 felony carries a sentencing guideline of between three and 16 years in prison.
