Legal proceedings against a 66-year-old Salem man accused of sexually assaulting a mentally challenged Bartholomew County woman are on hold until after his co-defendants are given the chance to change their pleas.
This development involving Jon. A. Arnold increases the possibility that a co-defendant may be offered a plea agreement in exchange for testifying truthfully against the others.
Arnold is charged in Washington Superior Court with 12 counts of “rape while the victim is mentally disabled or deficient,” according to state statute. Tests indicate the woman has cognitive functioning similar to that of a toddler, and is unable to give sexual consent, investigators said. All rape charges are Level 3 felonies.
The defendant is also charged with human trafficking as a Level 4 felony and making an unlawful proposition as a Class A misdemeanor. In March, the office of Washington County Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt informed the court they intend to seek enhanced penalties for Arnold, based on prior convictions.
Arnold’s trial, which will be presided over by Washington Superior Court Judge Dustin Houchin, was originally scheduled to begin July 16. The prosecution and defense have agreed to postpone it until 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 17.
In Bartholomew Circuit Court, Arnold is charged with one count of rape as a Level 3 felony and human trafficking as a Level 4 felony. But his change of plea hearing before Judge Kelly Benjamin isn’t on the docket until 9 a.m. on Sept. 9, with a tentative trial date of Oct. 8.
All of Arnold’s hearings are scheduled after change of plea hearings are held in Columbus for three Jonesville residents who resided with the victim. Investigators believe the three drove her to Arnold’s home in an arrangement to provide sexual relations in exchange for $600 a month, a court affidavit states. Investigators say the woman was transported to Washington County 12 to 15 times between late 2022 and early 2023.
The co-defendants – Christina L. Moffatt, 28; Christopher S. Lovell, 41; and Brandon A. Jacobs, 38 – are charged in Benjamin’s court with rape as a Level 3 felony and promotion of human sexual trafficking. All three will have change of plea hearings on Aug. 12.
According to the court affidavit, the three co-defendants had also been involved in sexual acts with the victim. Lovell is accused of battering the woman shortly before the birth of her child. As a result, he’s facing one count of domestic battery with bodily injury against a pregnant woman as a Level 5 felony.
In Salem, Hunt’s office has charged Moffatt with promoting prostitution as a Level 5 felony. She’s scheduled to appear for a pretrial conference before Washington Circuit Court Judge Larry Medlock at 9 a..m on Aug. 8, with a tentative trial date of Sept. 3.
At this time, Moffatt, Lovell and Jacobs all have the same time and date for their trial in Bartholomew Circuit Court: 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 10.
