Staff Report

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to molesting two children.

Andy Tlaxcalteca

Andy Tlaxcalteca, 19, 3762 W. Old Road 30 #27W, Warsaw, was sentenced on two counts of child molesting, both level 4 felonies, in Kosciusko Superior Court 1 Monday, Sept. 27.

On Nov. 25, 2020, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy received a report of child molestation involving two children from a Department of Child Services representative.

On Dec. 1, 2020, Safe Harbor Advocacy Center representatives interviewed one of the children. According to court documents, the child said while they were sleeping, they were inappropriately touched by Tlaxcalteca.

The child said they told Tlaxcalteca to stop and pushed him away. The child said they were touched inappropriately by Tlaxcalteca multiple times in the past, with the most recent occurring the week prior to being interviewed.

The child also said they witnessed a second child being inappropriately touched by Tlaxcalteca in a similar fashion.

Safe Harbor Advocacy Center representatives interviewed the second child about what occurred. The child said while they and the other child were asleep, Tlaxcalteca would lay with them and inappropriately touch them. During the investigation, it was determined the inappropriate touching would have occurred between August and November 2020.

On Dec. 9, 2020, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s deputy spoke with Tlaxcalteca about the incidents. 

Initially, Tlaxcalteca denied inappropriately touching either child. After learning of the allegations, Tlaxcalteca admitted to touching one of the children at least two times but continued to deny ever touching the other child.

Tlaxcalteca was represented in court by Attorney John Barrett, who pointed out that his client has no prior criminal history.

A relative of Tlaxcalteca’s told Judge Karin McGrath that Tlaxcalteca has the support of his family.

“I can only hope the victims have the same support,” McGrath said to Tlaxcalteca. “They’re the ones who need to heal. I cannot imagine and fully comprehend what they will need to recover.”

For the first count of child molesting, McGrath sentenced Tlaxcalteca to five years in prison.

For the second count of child molesting, Tlaxcalteca was sentenced to four years in prison. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, meaning one after the other. 

Tlaxcalteca was also ordered to register as a sex offender. Pursuant to the plea agreement, there is a no-contact order in place between Tlaxcalteca and the victims.