Prosecutors charged a Franklin man with child molesting after a young girl said he touched her inappropriately.
Harley William Stott, 25, is charged with child molesting, a Level 1 felony, the highest level crime a person can be charged with besides murder. He could face up to 40 years in prison.
The victim told a family member that on June 30, during an outdoor game of hide and seek, Stott touched her inappropriately in the bushes behind a Franklin house, according to a probable cause affidavit filed last week in Johnson County Superior Court 3.
The family member reported the incident July 1 to Franklin police, according to court documents.
Detectives interviewed Stott, who initially denied the allegations, saying it happened accidentally as he was helping the victim climb into and out of a tree, court documents show.
He eventually admitted in writing that he had touched the victim inappropriately during a game of hide and seek due to uncontrollable urges, according to court documents.
Stott told police he needed help but did not know how to ask for help, court documents show.
DNA were collected from both Stott and the victim, according to court documents.
Police arrested Stott July 2. He was taken to the Johnson County jail where he is held on $40,000 bond.
