Man, 67 Receives Nine-Year Sentence For Molesting Child
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
James M. Bauer
WARSAW — A Warsaw man will serve nine years in prison after molesting a child.
James M. Bauer, 67, 640 S. Columbia St., Warsaw, was charged with child molesting, a level 4 felony. A second child molesting charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Bauer was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Monday, Oct. 3.
For molesting, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Bauer to nine years at the Indiana Department of Correction, and one year probation.
Bauer has 78 days of jail time credit in the case and must register as a sex offender. A no-contact order between Bauer and the child remains in effect.
In July, the Warsaw Police responded to a molestation report. A woman said she dropped a child off to be watched by Bauer while she was working. The woman said the child disclosed to her that they no longer wished to go back to Bauer’s residence because they had been inappropriately touched. A nurse examiner found injuries to the child’s genitals in the form of scratches and abrasions.
The child’s mother testified during Bauer’s sentencing and detailed how the molestation has had a lasting impact on the child’s life.
“My child doesn’t trust anyone now,” said the mother. “The name ‘Jim’ terrifies (them). (They) are not the same child (they were) five months ago.”
Multiple people were present in support of the victim and their family, while five people attended the sentencing in support of Bauer.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek argued to McGrath for an elevated sentence, asking for aggravators in the case to be given significant weight.
Bauer said he would accept whatever punishment the court would give him. He noted his previous experiences with giving back to the community and being involved in church.
“I’ve changed my way of thinking and I pray every day to change,” said Bauer. “I will never, ever do anything like this again.”
Defense Attorney Richard Thonert said Bauer took immediate responsibility for his actions and noted the risk of this type of offense happening again was low, if not non-existent.
McGrath reminded Bauer of what Matthew 18:6 in the Bible says about harming children.
“Evidence of helping others simply doesn’t work like that,” said McGrath. “All good deeds don’t cover for one bad act. This child will suffer the ramifications of this act for the rest of (their) life.”
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