By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Joshua Allen Bammel

WARSAW — A Leesburg man received a 15-year sentence after raping a relative.

Joshua Allen Bammel, 40, 2992 E. Armstrong Road, Leesburg, was charged with rape, a level 3 felony; and incest, a level 5 felony.

Bammel was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Monday, March 21.

On Aug. 11, 2020, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officer responded to a report of a rape that occurred on Aug. 9, 2020. The officer spoke with the victim, who said they were in a tent with Bammel. They told the officer they had consumed alcoholic beverages earlier that day and fell asleep around 8 p.m.

According to court documents, the person said they woke up around midnight with lower abdominal pain and a bruise on their right thigh. They said they had no recollection of any events occurring from the time they fell asleep until they woke up.

The person told the officer they believed Bammel had sexual intercourse with them without consent. They said Bammel had told them in the past he was going to have sex with them someday. The person also told officers that Bammel was a registered sex offender.

Bammel and the victim’s relationship is redacted in court documents.

That same day, the person completed a forensic exam at a sexual assault treatment center in Fort Wayne. During the exam, injuries were noted, including bruises to the person’s upper right thigh, as well as visible redness, bruising and injury to the genitalia. The Indiana State Police Laboratory reported the presence of an unknown male’s DNA from the sexual assault kit.

On Dec. 9, 2020, Bammel spoke with a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s detective about the incident. When the detective explained the accusation, Bammel immediately interjected and said he didn’t remember what happened that night. At that time, the detective hadn’t mentioned when or where the incident occurred. Bammel was asked to provide a DNA sample for examination by the Indiana State Police Laboratory.

On Jan. 8, 2021, the Indiana State Police Laboratory reported that swabs from the victim contained DNA from Bammel.

Bammel was found guilty of sexual battery in Kosciusko Circuit Court on October 2014. In that case, Bammel received a one-year suspended sentence; a requirement for his sentence included registering as a sex offender through November 2024.

During court proceedings, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek described the incident as a “heinous, sad act.” He requested Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath give Bammel a sentence that included a lengthy amount of incarceration.

Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon said Bammel regrets his actions, noting that the case’s circumstances are “particular and very difficult.” Rigdon said that since the case involved one of Bammel’s relatives, the likelihood of those circumstances reoccurring would be unlikely.

Judge McGrath noted the aggravators in Bammel’s case were more significant, discussing his extensive criminal history, including prior convictions for sexual battery and failing to register as a sex offender.

For rape, Judge McGrath sentenced Bammel to 15 years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with 10 years executed and five years suspended on probation. Bammel also received a four-year DoC sentence for incest. Both counts will be served concurrently, or at the same time.

In total, Bammel received a 15-year sentence, with 10 years in prison and five years on probation. He has 126 days of jail time credit.

Through this case, Bammel must again register as a sex offender. A no-contact order between Bammel and the victim also remains in effect.