Powell
A Franklin man is charged with multiple counts of child molesting after police say he molested a pre-teen.
Anthony S. Powell, 32, was charged with three counts of child molesting as a Level 1 felony, and two counts of child molesting as a Level 4 felony. If convicted, he faces up to 144 years in prison.
The Indiana Department of Child Services reported the incident to Franklin police last month, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 3 Thursday.
The child told police Powell had touched them and made them touch him inappropriately multiple times since March 2020. Sometimes, Powell tied the abuse to requests from the child; every time the child asked him for something he told the child he would only fulfill the request if the child performs a sexual act for him, according to the affidavit.
On other occasions, Powell asked the child if they could have sexual intercourse, and they did so several times, the affidavit says.
Powell allegedly told the child not to tell anyone or else he would be going away for a long-time, and that if he was happy, everyone was happy. The victim said they delayed reporting the molestation because they were afraid of the consequences, the affidavit says.
The child also told police the molesting stopped after police and DCS came to her home, according to the affidavit.
Police interviewed Powell the same day and he denied the allegations, and said he would never harm the victim, the affidavit says.
A warrant was issued for Powell’s arrest on Friday. He was taken to the Johnson County jail Saturday on a $40,000 bond, which was paid later that day, according to jail booking records.
An initial hearing has not been set, online court records show.
