Warsaw Man Arrested For Child Molestation
*WARNING: The following article contains information that may not be suitable for all readers*
WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after juveniles told officials they had been molested during an overnight stay at the man’s house.
Andrew Steven Finch, 31, 318. S. Lake St., Warsaw, was arrested on Dec. 29, and is being charged with two counts of child molesting of a child under the age of 14, level 4 felonies, one count of child exploitation and one count child solicitation of a child under 14, level 5 felonies, and a count of child pornography, a level 6 felony.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, a juvenile reported that during an overnight stay at Finch’s home, occurring on Dec. 23, 2016, he and two other juveniles had been given alcohol by Finch.
The juvenile further stated he had been woken up to his genitalia being touched. The juvenile kept his eyes shut. When his pants were pulled back up, the juvenile witnessed Finch getting back into his bed which was in the same room. The juvenile believes it was Finch who was inappropriately touching him. At that time, the juvenile left the residence to contact his parents.
After discovering this information, officers working with Child Protective Services were able to identify and interview two other juvenile boys who had also stayed overnight at Finch’s home.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, one of the juveniles confirmed Finch had given them alcohol. He went on to say that Finch had exposed himself to him on several occasions during the visit and would attempt to coax the juveniles to “tickle” a spot on Finch’s scrotum. The juvenile also stated that Finch had touched him inappropriately and had shown the juvenile pornographic images on Finch’s cell phone.
Officers obtained a search warrant of Finch’s cellphone and found several photographs of pubescent and prepubescent boys.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, officers found images of an exposed pubescent boy on Finch’s phone and learned it was of a juvenile who had stayed at Finch’s home. The juvenile identified the clothing in the picture and advised that the clothing was still in the basement of Finch’s home. The juvenile also confirmed the “tickling spot” as reported by the previous juvenile, and also told officers that Finch had shown him pornographic material on his cell phone.
Finch admitted that three juveniles had spent the nights of Dec. 22 and 23, 2016, at his residence. Finch also told officers that two of the juveniles had stayed at his residence for over a year and that he, Finch, considered himself as their guardian.
Finch was booked into Kosciusko County Jail on Dec. 29, 2016, on a charge of child pornography with $5,250 surety and cash bond.