SEVERAL SEXUAL OFFENDERS ARRESTED OVER LONG-TERM INVESTIGATION IN JENNINGS COUNTY

More arrests are expected as a result of the investigation.

                                                               (ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNINGS COUNTY JAIL) 

Over the past several months, Sheriff Kenny Freeman and Sgt. Doug Brown led an operation to protect Jennings County children from sexual predators. As a result of that investigation, Jennings County Deputies have made several arrests.

During the investigation deputies, conducted random home checks involving registered sex and violent offenders in Jennings County. Offenders are required to report their current address, telephone number, vehicles they own or operate and to have a valid Indiana issued identification card or driver's license with their current address. A violation of any these requirements is a Felony under Indiana Criminal Code. Several of these requirement violations were found and several arrests were made. There were also additional arrests made for child solicitation and sending harmful material to minors.

Subjects arrested were transported and held in the Jennings County Jail. Sheriff Freeman stated, “the safety of our children is a priority and if people are not following what is required by law, they will be held accountable and will be arrested each and every time”. More arrests are expected as a result of the investigation.

ARRESTED:

Matthew Sowers (49, North Vernon, IN) - Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 6 Felony)

Michael Brown (51, North Vernon, IN) - Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 6 Felony)

Richard Cain (62, North Vernon, IN) - Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 6 Felony)

Jonathan Moore (34, North Vernon, IN) - Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 6 Felony)

Joseph Wright (54, North Vernon, IN) - Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender (Level 6 Felony)

Richard Bunch (59, Columbus, IN) - Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony), Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Disseminating Harmful Material to Minors (Level 6 Felony), Possession of Paraphernalia (C Misdemeanor)

Cody Powel (35, Attica, IN) - Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony), Disseminating Harmful Material to Minors (Level 6 Felony), Resisting Law Enforcement by Fleeing (Level 6 Felony)

Brandon Strickland (30, North Vernon, IN)- Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony)

Tilden Slone (43, Seymour, IN) - Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony), Disseminating Harmful Material to Minors (Level 6 Felony)

Yeison Calderon (29, Westfield, IN) - Child Solicitation (Level 4 Felony)