Moffatt
One of four defendants charged with coercing a mentally challenged woman multiple times for sexual purposes has been sentenced in Bartholomew Circuit Court.
Christina L. Moffatt, 28, of Jonesville was ordered by Judge Kelly Benjamin to serve five years with the Indiana Department of Correction – one year less than the maximum term allowed under Indiana law.
On Sept. 5, Moffatt pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution as a Level 5 felony. In exchange, the prosecution agreed to drop the original charges of rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient as a Level 3 felony, and promotion of human sexual trafficking as a Level 4 felony. Had she been convicted of the original charges, the defendant could have faced up to 28-years in prison.
But Indiana’s judicial system isn’t finished with the defendant yet.
Moffatt will be back in a Salem, Indiana courtroom next week where she’s facing the same charge regarding the same woman, a probable cause affidavit states. She’s charged in both Washington and Bartholomew counties because the victim was coerced into submission at both locations, the affidavit states.
Washington Circuit Judge Larry Medlock has set a pretrial conference or change of plea hearing at 9 a.m. on Nov. 14, with a jury trial scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 7.
In a lengthy investigation, detectives learned the victim had resided in a rental house at 594 Market St., Jonesville with Moffatt and two men: Brandon A. Jacobs, 37, and Christopher S. Lovell, 41. Both men are charged with rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient as a Level 3 felony, and human trafficking as a Level 4 felony.
In a related but separate case, Lovell is accused of battering the mentally challenged woman while she was expecting a child. The Level 5 felony charge of domestic battery with bodily injury to a pregnant woman is expected to be grouped this month with the other charges later this month.
Body camera footage indicates that Jacobs or Lovell are possible fathers of the victim’s child, the court document states. The woman and her child are being cared for by the state.
The victim was allegedly transported by the three defendants to Salem in a $600 a month arrangement, where she was made available multiple times to Jon A. Arnold of Salem for sexual purposes, according to court documents.
Lovell and Jacobs are scheduled for a change of plea hearing or pre-trial conference on Nov. 18th. The hearing for Lovell is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. while Jacobs is set to appear at 1:30 p.m. At this time, the judge has tentatively scheduled both men to be tried at the same time, with jury selection getting underway at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 3.
In Washington Superior Court, Arnold is facing 12 counts of rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient as Level 3 felonies, as well as one count of human trafficking as a Level 4 felony. If found guilty of all counts, Arnold could be sentenced to more than 200 years in prison.
Arnold, who is free on $60,000 bond, is scheduled for a change of plea or pre-trial conference before Washington Superior Court Judge Dustin Houchin at 9 a.m. on Dec. 4. He’s tentatively scheduled to be tried at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 21.
In Bartholomew County, Arnold is charged with rape when the victim is mentally disabled or deficient at a Level 3 felony, and human trafficking as a Level 4 felony. His next appearance before Benjamin will be a change of plea or pre-trial conference at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 6. A trial is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Feb.4.
