A jury trial is tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday in Bartholomew Circuit Court for a suspect accused of child molesting.
Thomas E. Neal, 59, is charged with one count of child molesting as a Level 1 felony. If convicted, the former Heritage Heights subdivision resident could face 20 to 40 years in prison, as well as a $10,000 fine.
According to court documents, Judge Kelly Benjamin has called in 50 potential jurors for the trial that will likely last approximately three days.
Officers were informed of the alleged molestations on March 9, 2024, after an 8-year-old girl told her mother she had been molested on several occasions by her male babysitter, according to a probable cause affidavit.
On that same day, Columbus Police contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services.
During questioning at the Child Advocacy Center of Southeastern Indiana in Greensburg, the girl said the molestations had been going on about three months, according to a probable cause affidavit filed on March 27. The alleged victim also told investigators Neal promised to buy her an iPad if she kept quiet, the affidavit states.
The defendant was living out of a local motel on the city’s far west side when taken into custody on March 23, 2024. He was still behind bars nearly a month later when no contact orders were issued by Benjamin to protect the victim and her family.
Neal appeared before the judge on April 4 for an initial hearing. At that time, bond was set at $250,000 bond or 10% cash. The defendant has requested a lower bond twice, but Benjamin denied the request both times.
While given opportunities to accept a plea agreement, Neal told the court last October that he wanted to take the case to trial. He’s being represented in court by public defender Don Andrews.
During a hearing on Thursday, the judge met with attorneys to consider a request by the prosecutor to exclude or admit certain evidence or testimony before a trial. Attorneys use these requests, known in legal terms as ‘motions in limine’, to prevent prejudicial evidence from being introduced.
