A Brown County man faces multiple felonies, including two counts of child molesting, after police say he had intercourse and committed other sexual acts with a 12-year-old girl.
Troy R. Mace, 20, was booked into the Brown County jail April 5. He was being held on $30,000 bond as of April 10.
The charges stem from an investigation Brown County Sheriff’s Detective Brian Shrader began in March.
Mace told Shrader he had had intercourse with the victim once, a year ago, after he had graduated high school. He was 19 at the time.
The victim told the authorities she was “positive” Mace knew she was under the age of 14. The probable-cause affidavit mentions a text message conversation between them in which he refers to her as being 15 and she corrects him with her real age.
The victim said Mace told her not to tell anyone because “he could get in a lot of trouble,” the affidavit said.
Mace denied touching the victim any other time. She said Mace had touched her on another occasion as well.
Mace was charged April 4 with child molesting, a Level 3 felony; child molesting, a Level 4 felony; vicarious sexual gratification, a Level 4 felony; and child solicitation, a Level 5 felony.
He appeared in court via videoconference from the jail April 6. He pleaded not guilty and told the court he would retain his own counsel. A preliminary court trial date was set for June 28.
A Level 3 felony carries a possible sentence of between three and 16 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. The advisory sentence is nine years with a fine of up to $10,000.
