A 32-year-old Bloomington man has been charged with multiple felonies after police say he molested a young girl more than once since 2018 in Brown County.

Joshua McAnelly was charged March 1 with two counts of child molesting, Level 4 felonies; child solicitation, a Level 5 felony; and display of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony.

An investigation began Feb. 22 when Det. Brian Shrader was contacted by the Department of Child Services concerning a sexual abuse allegation involving McAnelly and a 7-year-old.

The victim was interviewed at Susie’s Place on Feb. 23. She said that when she goes to McAnelly’s house he shuts the door to his bedroom and tries to kiss her, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The victim said that had happened on more than one occasion. She also said that McAnelly had shown her pornography on his phone involving young children when they were in his bedroom and that he’d asked her if she wanted to do what was happening in the video.

She said the abuse first started sometime after her fifth birthday and the last time McAnelly had done anything to her was when her mother was in the hospital recently.

One of the other children that had been in McAnelly’s home when the molestation occurred was interviewed. He said he had noticed McAnelly’s bedroom door would be shut often with the victim inside the room. He said that one time the victim came out of the room and told other children that McAnelly had tried to kiss her, according to the affidavit.

That child was the first to report the abuse to the victim’s mother.

The victim was asked about it by her mother’s fiancé and disclosed the exact scenarios she shared at Susie’s Place. The fiancé recorded that conversation.

A search warrant was executed on McAnelly’s current home in Bloomington for electronics, his phone and other items.

Shrader interviewed him at the Brown County Law Enforcement Center.

McAnelly acted surprised at the accusations, the police report said. Shrader wrote that his reaction was not normal for someone who was being accused of molestation based on previous cases he had investigated.

McAnelly told the officer he was addicted to pornography and watched videos involving teenagers. He said he had watched pornography while the victim had been next to him before, according to the affidavit.

He denied asking the victim to have sex with him. When Shrader told him the victim had given explanations that could not be a made up story, McAnelly responded with, “I just don’t understand.” Shrader noted that response was also abnormal because he was not repeatedly saying “I did not do this,” the affidavit states.

After taking a break from the interview, Shrader returned and told McAnelly he believed the victim over him and he needed to know the truth. McAnelly reportedly put his hands on his face and said, “Maybe I touched her. I just don’t remember,” the affidavit states.

McAnelly told Shrader he had memory issues for most of his life.

“It is likely that McAnelly could not bring himself to tell the entire truth,” Shrader wrote.

He was arrested for child molestation.

While he was being walked to the jail, McAnelly told Shrader again, “Maybe I touched her. Probably I touched her. I just don’t remember,” the report said.

Shrader also found that McAnelly had been a suspect in a case about sexual misconduct with a minor in 2008, but no charges were filed.

McAnelly’s initial hearing was March 1. Public defender Courtney Allen was appointed to represent him. His bond was set at $150,000 and he was ordered to have no contact with the victim or anyone in her household. He is still in jail.

His jury trial is tentatively scheduled for May 26 at 8 a.m.