Man Charged With Sexual Misconduct, Solicitation
Warsaw Police detectives requested a warrant for Howard Leon Southall, 50, 426 Sophie Ln., Warsaw, and who formerly resided in the Canterbury Apartment complex. Police say the inappropriate conduct occurred at the apartment complex.
Southall has been charged with a class D felony of child solicitation, and a class D felony of sexual battery involving the inappropriate communication and touching of a 14-year-old girl. The acts allegedly happened at both the complex and on Harrison Elementary School property from June through July of this year.
Warsaw police had received complaints that Southall had been following and approaching young girls through the complex property and to the school property during the summer, when children would frequent the playground areas there. The investigation revealed written notes had been exchanged between Southall and the 14-year-old girl in July and August. Subsequent interviews alleged sexual touching by Southall of the child.
During the initial investigation, Southall fled to the Indianapolis area, but had since returned to the area.
The investigation involved Warsaw Police detectives and the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office. He is being held at the Kosciusko County Jail for the sexual charges on $ 2000 Bond.
Southall turned himself in on the warrant Monday evening.