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WARSAW — A Lakeville man who admitted to engaging in sex with a female relative received a suspended sentence in Kosciusko Superior Court Thursday, Oct. 24. 

William Glenn Davis, 54, 23095 Tyler Road, Lakeville, pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution, a level 5 felony. 

In January, William Davis and Samantha Davis, 21, 21,1903 West Point Drive, Warsaw, were each initially charged with incest, a level 5 felony. 

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Jan. 17, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a domestic disturbance at a Warsaw residence. The officer arrived and spoke with Samantha Davis and her ex-boyfriend, who were accusing each other of domestic violence.

The ex-boyfriend said that he and Samantha Davis were arguing because she was having sexual relations with William Davis. Samantha Davis admitted that she began having sex with William Davis in July 2018 at her residence.

The officer spoke with William Davis, who admitted he and Samantha Davis had intercourse multiple times.

“I made a horrible decision. I have embarrassed and shamed my entire family,” William Davis said in court Thursday. “I used to be the go-to for my family. Now I’m an embarrassment. I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done.”

Chief Deputy Prosector Brad Voelz referred to Samantha Davis as “a willing co-participant.”

“It’s probably more troubling psychologically than it is criminal,” Voelz said. 

A jury trial  is scheduled for next Tuesday related to Samantha Davis’ charge.

Voelz asked William Davis for input related to Samantha Davis’ potential sentence. 

“I’d ask that you let her be,” William Davis responded. “Our family has pretty much been destroyed.”

William Davis’ lawyer, Robert Masters, told Judge David Cates that William Davis has never had any brushes with the law and is unlikely to commit another crime.

Cates sentenced William Davis to two years in the Kosciusko County Jail, with the sentence ordered to be suspended and served on formal probation. 

William Davis was given one day of jail time credit and ordered to comply with all rules of probation. He was ordered to complete a mental health assessment and any recommended follow-up. If William Davis is successful on probation, Cates said he would be willing to consider a sentence modification in the future. 

It is unclear what prompted the promoting prostitution charge. A description of the charge, under Indiana code 35-45-4-4, states, in part, that the act of promoting prostitution happens when: having control over the use of a place, knowingly or intentionally permits another person to use the place for prostitution or juvenile prostitution; receives money or other property from a prostitute or juvenile prostitution victim, without lawful consideration, knowing it was earned in whole or in part from prostitution or juvenile prostitution; or knowingly or intentionally conducts or directs another person to a place for the purpose of prostitution or juvenile prostitution. 

According to ic 35-45-4-4, the charge is a level 5 felony; however, the offense is a level 4 felony under subdivision (1) if the person enticed or compelled is less than 18 years of age.

Court documents did not disclose how the two are related.