Cohee
A Gas City man is facing multiple charges for allegedly molesting a Greenwood juvenile and teaching them how to snort drugs.
Austin L. Cohee, 28, is charged with two counts of child molesting as a Level 1 felony and contributing to the delinquency of a minor as a Level 6 felony. A Level 1 felony is the highest possible charge that can be filed other than murder.
The charges against Cohee were filed in May 2022 and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same month, according to online court court records. However, Cohee was not brought to the Johnson County jail until April 5. This was because he was serving time in the Indiana Department of Correction for a Hendricks County armed robbery case, said Lance Hamner, Johnson County prosecutor.
“He was picked up as soon as he was released from prison,” Hamner said.
In March 2022, a juvenile told Greenwood Police that Cohee allegedly sexually assaulted them in the summer of 2021. The juvenile also told detectives Cohee reportedly taught them how to snort oxycodone, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Johnson Superior Court 2
On the day one of the reported assaults occurred, the juvenile was discussing a health problem with Cohee when he said they were perfect. Later, after the child snorted drugs, Cohee reportedly put the juvenile on his lap. They were uncomfortable with this, so they left the room, the affidavit shows.
When the juvenile came back to the room, Cohee allegedly began kissing them and began to touch them inappropriately. Later that evening, Cohee reportedly told the juvenile that age didn’t matter and “sex was natural.” He also reportedly told the child it was normal a long time ago for people who were 14 to get with people who were 30 years old, according to the affidavit.
A second incident occurred the following day in 2021, after Cohee reportedly pulled them in for a kiss. The juvenile told him they did not want to, and Cohee said it was OK. He then touched the juvenile inappropriately. The juvenile reportedly said they were left in pain after this, the affidavit shows.
An initial hearing is set for 9 a.m. April 17.
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.
