Staff Report

CLAYPOOL — A Claypool man who will turn 71 years old Tuesday was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday, Oct. 25.

Thomas Gibson

Thomas J. Gibson, 70, 7311 S. CR 425W, Claypool, pleaded guilty to child molesting, a level 3 felony.

According to information in the affidavit of probable cause, on Nov. 29, 2020, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer responded to a child molest complaint that occurred earlier in the month. A child told their parents that Gibson had touched them inappropriately.

The victim was interviewed by Safe Harbor Advocacy Center representatives Dec. 3 and repeated the same details of the incident. According to the mother of the victim, Gibson admitted that the allegations made by the child were true.

In court Monday, Gibson said he was there to take full responsibility for his actions. Approximately 15 family members and friends showed up in support of Gibson.

“I have a lot of grief and shame in my heart,” Gibson said, adding that he can’t wait for the day when he can ask forgiveness from the victim.

Gibson’s attorney, John Barrett, pointed out that Gibson has “absolutely no criminal history” and asked Judge Karin McGrath to take into consideration Gibson’s age and “the exemplary life led by Mr. Gibson” prior to the molestation when fashioning a sentence. Barrett added that Gibson has sought medical treatment and counseling in the past year.

McGrath commended the parents of the victim for taking the child’s claim seriously and looking into it further, stating, “These are the type of parents I wish for all victims of this type of abuse.”

“I hope you told (the victim) that this is not (the victim’s) fault and (the victim) did nothing wrong. (The victim) did a very brave thing and did not deserve what happened to (the victim),” McGrath said.

McGrath sentenced Gibson to 12 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections, with three years of the sentence being suspended and ordered to be served on formal probation.

Gibson was ordered to register as a sex offender and to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and assessment. He was given one day of jail time credit.

A no contact order was implemented between Gibson and the victim.