Toby R. Young

Denying any wrongdoing, a Syracuse man was arrested Thursday and charged with having inappropriate sexual relations with a teenager.

Toby Reed Young, 42, of 203 S. Edgewater Dr., Syracuse, is facing a B felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor after the teen, who is at least 14 years old but less than 16 years old, told authorities the man was buying her cigarettes in return for sexual favors.

The teen described to police investigators and a child services caseworker numerous instances of heavy petting, oral sex and intercourse that allegedly occurred over a period from around December 2010 to March 2011 when Young lived in the same North Webster duplex as her family.

The teen said she was warned by Young not to tell anyone what was happening or he would stop buying her cigarettes. But, according to court papers filed in the case, the teen told a friend, who then ultimately got word to the teen’s father.

As evidence of the alleged crime, police were given a pair of the girl’s shorts that had semen on them. Those shorts were turned over to the Indiana State Police Laboratory for DNA testing. Young also provided a DNA sample as part of the testing.

While being interviewed by investigators, Young said he had masturbated on a T-shirt while thinking of his wife and then threw the shirt in the laundry. He said the teen girl offered to clean his house on that particular day and also did her family’s laundry at his house, which is house the semen got on her shorts. He also said the girl likely made the allegations against him because he would not buy her anymore cigarettes.

Lab results showed male DNA was found on the girl’s shorts, but the amount was insufficient for further analysis.

A warrant for Young was issued on April 28 of this year. He is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on a $20,000 surety bond.