Moffatt
One of three former Jonesville residents accused of rape and promoting human trafficking is expected to accept a plea agreement – but not on the charges she’s currently facing.
What public defender Joseph Villaneuva described as “alternative charges” against Christina L. Moffatt, 28, are expected to be filed in a matter of days.
Filling in for Bartholomew Circuit Judge Kelly Benjamin, Special Judge Roger Duvall of Scott County agreed to Villaneuva’s request to schedule a change of plea hearing on the “alternative charges.”
The hearing is now set for 9:45 a.m.on Sept. 5.
In Washington Circuit Court in Salem, Moffatt is charged with promoting prostitution as a Level 5 felony. She’s scheduled for a pre-trial conference before Judge Larry Medlock at 9 a.m. on Oct. 10, with a jury trial on the calendar for Jan. 7.
Her co-defendants, Christopher S. Lovell, 41, and Brandon A. Jacobs, 38, were scheduled to have change of plea hearings in Columbus Monday. But evidence, as well as recorded sworn testimony of witnesses, is still be gathered in both of their cases, according to their attorneys.
Lovell’s pre-trial or change of plea hearing has been postponed until 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 19, with a jury trial tentatively set to begin Dec. 3. For Jacobs, the change of plea hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Nov. 4. Currently, Jacobs is scheduled to be tried with Lovell.
The case against the three co-defendants originated when Bartholomew County Adult Protective Services was contacted by Columbus Regional Hospital about the birth of a child July 6, 2023.
The mother was diagnosed as having the mental capability of a toddler, and therefore unable to consent to a sexual relationship, a probable cause affidavit states.
Police later learned that the victim, who resided with Lovell, Moffatt, and Jacobs in Jonesville, was allegedly transported to Salem in a $600 a month arrangement with Jon A. Arnold, 66. The victim was made available multiple times to Arnold in his home for sexual purposes, the affidavit states.
Court records show Lovell is also being charged with battering the female victim while she was pregnant on April 27. Body camera footage indicates that Jacobs or Lovell are possible fathers of the victim’s child, the court document states.
Authorities became aware of Arnold after Lovell told detectives he saw a man later identified as the Salem resident engage in sexual acts with the victim, according to the probable cause affidavit in the case.
In Bartholomew Circuit Court, Arnold is charged with rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient as a Level 3 felony, and human trafficking as a Level 4 felony. His change of plea hearing before Benjamin has been put on hold until 9 a.m. on Sept. 9, with a jury trial tentatively scheduled to begin Oct. 8.
In Washington Superior Court, Arnold is charged with 12 counts of rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient at Level 3 felonies and one count of human trafficking as a Level 4 felony. If convicted of all charges, Arnold could received a sentencing of more than 200 years in prison.
On Aug. 5, Judge Dustin L. Houchin agreed to delay the rape and human trafficking case against Arnold to prepare the defendant to go to trial this month on making business deals regarding timber without being registered.
In regard to the rape and human trafficking charges filed in Salem, Arnold’s pre-trial conference is now scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on Sept. 30, while the jury trial is delayed until Jan. 21.
