Powell
A New Whiteland man has been charged with child molestation for the third time in the last year.
Anthony S. Powell, 33, formerly of Franklin, is charged with child molestation, a Level 4 felony, and sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 5 felony. He was brought into the Johnson County jail on a warrant Friday.
Powell was previously charged in March 2022 with three counts of child molesting as a Level 1 felony and two counts of child molesting as a Level 4 felony. Two months later, he was charged with an additional count of child molesting as a Level 4 felony.
Franklin police began investigating the latest case after the Department of Child Services notified them of an abuse report in February. A juvenile reported that they had been touched by Powell, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson County Superior Court 3 on May 8.
The juvenile told investigators that Powell had inappropriately touched them over the course of four years beginning in October 2018. Powell had also allegedly kissed the minor on the lips on several occasions, and if they refused, he would reportedly get mad, the affidavit shows.
Detectives attempted to interview Powell in February at the Johnson County jail, but the interview ended shortly after it began because Powell asked for a lawyer, the affidavit says.
This is the third child molestation case Powell has been charged in since March 2022.
In the first case filed on March 31, 2022, a child told police Powell had allegedly touched them and had 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 a separate probable cause affidavit.
On other occasions, Powell asked the child if they could have sexual intercourse, and they did so several times, the affidavit says.
In the second case filed on June 6, 2022, a child told police Powell had allegedly made them touch his genitals while they were at a birthday party in October 2021. The child and a witness — another child — were laying in a bounce house when Powell entered the bounce house while intoxicated, according to another probable cause affidavit.
Powell laid down with the children, and placed the child’s hand on top of his genitals, the affidavit says.
Non-emergency help dealing with sexual assault resources is available at Franklin-based ASSIST Indiana at 317-739-4456. For a complete list of resources from the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking, visit icesaht.org/get-help/. For emergency help dealing with sexual assault call or text 911 to report the crime.
