Staff Report

Thomas Allen Books II

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man was recently arrested for allegedly molesting and threatening a child.

Thomas Allen Books II, 34, 13473 N. Warner Road, Syracuse, is charged with child molesting, a level 1 felony; child molesting, a level 2 felony; child molesting, a level 4 felony; and intimidation, a level 6 felony.

On Nov. 29, law enforcement responded to a sexual assault in Syracuse. A person said they saw Books inappropriately interacting with a child.

According to court documents, the person said Books grabbed a firearm and left the scene. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputies later found Books, who was in possession of a shotgun.

An individual in the home said she was asleep when the person who reported Books touching the child said Books was going to harm himself.

During an interview at the Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center, the child detailed what Books did to them and said Books threatened to kill them. The child also submitted to an examination at the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center.

Books admitted to inappropriately touching the child.

Books was arrested on Nov. 29.