The exterior of Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind., pictured, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Four individuals charged with rape and participating in human sexual trafficking made their first appearance before a judge in Columbus Monday.
Appearing before Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Magistrate David Nowak were: Brandon A. Jacobs, 37, of 594 Market St., Jonesville; Christina L. Moffatt, 27, Seymour; Christopher S. Lovell, 41, Seymour and Jon A. Arnold, 65, Salem.
All defendants are charged with rape as a Level 4 felony. Arnold has been additionally charged with human trafficking at a Level 4 felony, while the remaining three are facing one count of of promotion of human sexual trafficking – also a Level 4 felony.
If found guilty on all counts, each of the four defendants could face up to 28 years in prison.
Although future hearings on the defendants will be held before Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin, Nowak handled initial hearings for all courts Monday. The judges recently began a rotation of processing initial hearings to allow most of the judges time to catch up on their dockets.
While Nowak can also modify bail amounts, the magistrate did not bring up the possibility Monday. All four have their bond set at $450,000 or 10% cash. However, Nowak did stress that each defendant has been issued a no contact order regarding the victim in the case.
All four defendants were ordered to appear before Benjamin for a pre-trial conference or change of plea hearing on Thursday, Jan. 4. While hearings are scheduled that day at different times throughout the morning and early afternoon, Nowak tentatively scheduled the same time and date for the trial of all defendants. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Adult Protective Services had been contacted by Columbus Regional Hospital about the birth of a child on July 6. After meeting with Columbus Regional Hospital police, social workers and the hospital birthing staff, investigators determined the victim did not have the cognitive ability to consent to enter into a sexual relationship.
In a lengthy investigation, Bartholomew County detectives learned the woman had resided with Jacobs, Moffatt and Lovell in Jonesville. It was also brought up that Lovell had been arrested for battering the pregnant victim on April 27, the probable cause affidavit states.
Evidence suggests that Jacobs or Lovell were possible fathers of the victim’s child, according to the affidavit.
According to detectives, Lovell said he had witnessed others perform sexual acts on the victim, including Moffatt. Lovell also claims he saw a video on Moffatt’s cellphone in which Jacobs was having intercourse with the woman, the affidavit states.
Investigators believe the victim was taken to Arnold’s residence in Salem multiple times a month in an arrangement for sexual relations in exchange for $600 a month, the affidavit states. The mentally deficient woman was taken to Arnold’s residence between 12 and 15 times between late 2022 and early 2023, investigators said.
Arnold told investigators there was never an arrangement to pay for sexual favors. But the Salem resident said he would would help with bills, the cost of gasoline or loan Jacobs or Lovell money.
Detectives stated that Jacobs admitted to engaging in intercourse with the victim in December 2022, but said he believed Lovell was the father of the baby. The victim is now under the care of a guardian and the baby is also being cared for in a safe situation, detectives stated.
As of Monday, Arnold was the only one of the four defendants who had hired his own lawyer: Jeremy Fisk of Franklin. Fisk has notified the court he will be seeking a bond reduction for Arnold.
Public defenders were appointed by Nowak to represent the other three defendants.
