Arnold
An accused rapist from Washington County is scheduled to be transported to Columbus for a change of plea hearing this morning.
Jon A. Arnold, 66, of Salem is facing felony charges in Bartholomew Circuit Court of rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient as a Level 3 felony, as well as human trafficking as a Level 4 felony. He’s scheduled to appear before Judge Kelly Benjamin at 9 a.m.
If convicted of those charges, Arnold could receive up to 28 years in prison. A tentative trial date of Oct. 8 has been scheduled.
But the charges in his hometown are far more severe than those in Columbus. Arnold is charged in Washington Superior County with 12 counts of rape, as well as one count of human trafficking. That could result in a sentence of more than 200 years in prison if convicted of all charges. A separate case in Salem charges him with making an unlawful proposition as a Class A misdemeanor.
The same woman, who was diagnosed as having the mental capability of a toddler, is the victim in both counties. She was allegedly transported to Salem multiple times in a $600 a month arrangement with Arnold. The victim was made available to Arnold on a regular basis for sexual purposes, a probable cause affidavit states.
Arnold’s case before Washington Superior Judge Dustin L. Houchin was placed on hold while he faced hearings in an unrelated case involving multiple illegal transactions in the timber industry. But on Aug. 30, a jury found him not guilty of two felonies and two misdemeanor charges in that case.
A change of plea hearing or pretrial conference in Salem on the rape and human trafficking case is now scheduled for Sept. 30, with a jury trial tentatively set at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 21.
One of three Jonesville residents accused of making the deal with Arnold — Christina L. Moffatt, 28 — was also originally charged with rape and promoting human trafficking.
But on Thursday, those charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain in Bartholomew Circuit Court. Moffatt agreed to plead guilty to promoting prostitution as a Level 5 felony. She’s now facing a potential sentence of one to six years in prison, with an advisory sentence of three years.
Co-defendants Christopher S. Lovell, 42, and Brandon A. Jacobs, 38, are still charged with rape and human trafficking. In a separate filing, Lovell is facing an felony charge of battery for striking the victim while she was pregnant.
Lovell’s pretrial conference or change of plea hearing is on the calendar for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 18, with a jury trial tentatively set to begin Dec. 13. For Jacobs, the change of plea hearing or pretrial conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 18. If there is no change of plea, Jacobs is set to go on trial at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 3.
The victim and her baby are being cared for in arrangements made by Bartholomew County Adult Protective Services. The identity of the baby’s father has not been publicly released.
