Bozell
Originally, a 38-year-old Columbus resident facing multiple counts of child molesting was not scheduled to be back in a courtroom until mid-March.
However, David Richard Bozell, Jr. requested a few days before Thanksgiving that his change of plea hearing be moved up on the court calendar. The defendant is now scheduled to appear before Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton at 11:15 a.m. Monday.
Bozell is charged with a Level 1 felony count of child molesting where the defendant is at least 21, three separate counts of child molesting as a Level 4 felony that involves the fondling or touching of a child under 14, and dissemination of matter harmful to minors as a Level 6 felony.
If found guilty on all charges, Bozell could receive up to 78 years in prison, as well as ordered to pay fines up to $50,000.
On Aug. 31, 2023, officers were sent to a residence east of the Mead Village neighborhood to investigate a report of sexual misconduct with a minor. Upon their arrival, the mother of a 10-year-old girl told police her daughter had been touched sexually by Bozell, according to a probable cause affidavit.
When questioned, the girl said Bozell had molested her three days in a row leading up to the end of August last year, the court document states.
In addition to the molestations, the 10-year-old said Bozell showed her adult videos and adult toys on his cell phone, as well as nude pictures of himself, according to court documents.
The mother said Bozell, whom she described as a longtime friend, had been her house guest or about a month, the affidavit states. Since the mother and Bozell did not have a romantic relationship, both the defendant and alleged victim had bedrooms in the basement, an investigator wrote.
When questioned by investigators, Bozell denied the allegations. However, a search of his cell phone turned up multiple nude photos of himself, the court document states. In addition, the browser showed multiple searches for pornography with storylines involving stepdaughters and stepfathers, according to the affidavit.
After an arrest warrant was issued in November, 2023, investigators learned Bozell was in prison as the result of a criminal case in Jasper. He was originally charged in Dubois County with leaving the scene of an accident, possession of methamphetamine, driving while suspended and possession of paraphernalia.
As part of a plea bargain, all charges were dropped except possession of methamphetamine as a Level 6 felony. On June 4, a Dubois Superior Court judge sentenced Bozell to two-and-a-half years in prison, as well as ordered him to pay $5,000 in restitution.
It’s unclear why Bozell and his court-appointed public defender, Greg Long, asked for the change of plea hearing to be moved up by three months. The hearing’s March date remains on the online calendar. A tentative date for a jury trial is April 15.
