MADISON MAN SENTENCED IN 2017 CHILD MOLESTATION CASE

THE CASE INVOLVED DOZENS OF HEARINGS AND FILINGS

JOSEPH D HOOK OF MADISON WHOM WAS CHARGED IN 2017 WITH MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES OF CHILD MOLESTING WHILE WORKING AT A DAYCARE HE OWNED WITH HIS WIFE HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS AT THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,

THE SENIOR JUDGE FROM JENNINGS COUNTY SENTENCED HOOK BECAUSE JEFFERSON CIRCUIT JUDGE DJ MOTE WAS THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR WHEN HOOK WAS FIRST CHARGED,

HE HAD AGREED TO A PLEA AGREEMENT WHICH HE TRIED TO WITHDRAW BUT THE JUDGE REJECTED IT SINCE HE HAD COUNSEL AT THE HEARING.

UNDER THE PLEA AGREEMENT HE PLEAD GUILTY TO CHILD MOLESTING FONDLING OR TOUCHING A CHILD UNDER AGE 14 AND CHILD MOLESTING DEFENDANT AT LEAST 21 YEARS OF AGE, TWO OTHER COUNTS WERE DISMISSED.

THE CASE WHICH IS NEARLY SIX YEARS IN LITIGATION BECAUSE OF DELAYS FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL JUDGE, THE DEFENDANT CHANGING DEFENSE TEAMS SEVERAL TIMES, ALONG WITH ALLEGED INTERFERENCE.

SINCE SOME STATES STATUES RELEVANT TO THE CASE HAVE UNDERWENT CHANGES DURING THE LONG STANDING PROCEEDINGS THE RULINGS INVOLVED COULD BE APPEALED TO THE INDIANA COURT OF APPEALS AND OR INDIANA SUPREME COURT.