Busch
An Indianapolis man was convicted of child solicitation after a two-day trial.
Christopher S. Busch, 56, now awaits sentencing for child solicitation as a level 4 Felony.
Busch was one of 32 men arrested in a child solicitation roundup in April 2023. This was part of an undercover Child Solicitation Operation organized by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the Franklin Police Department.
During the trial, officers from both departments testified that Busch offered via text messaging to engage in sex acts with a girl he believed was under the age of 16. They arrested Busch when he traveled to a specific location with the intent of meeting her, according to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case was presented to the 12-person jury by Chief Trial Deputy Carrie Miles, who leads the Sex Offender and Domestic Battery Division of the Prosecutor’s Office. Miles hopes the results of the trial send a message to would-be child predators.
“I don’t know how we can say it any clearer: leave the kids alone or you’re going away for a long time. Mr. Busch understands that now. I hope this message is being received by others like him,” Miles said in a statement.
Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said Busch faces up to 12 years in prison. He will also be placed on the sex offender registry which is required by law.
“I am pleased that this individual who came down here from Indianapolis to prey on kids in Johnson County will be serving years in prison, perhaps more than a decade, for his crime. A pervert in a steel cage poses no threat to our children,” Hamner said in a statement. “That’s our goal.”
Hamner credits Miles and local law enforcement for the favorable outcome of the case.
“I would like to thank Sheriff Duane Burgess and Chief Kirby Cochran for the excellent work by their teams: Detective Emily Watson, deputy sheriff, and Lt. Chris Tennell and Detective Nick Davis of the Franklin Police Department. I also thank Carrie Miles in our office who skillfully presented this case to a jury,” he said. “This is how we protect our children.”
Busch’s sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 22.
