Rodney Mock

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior 1 Court today, Dec. 21, on charges of child solicitation, a level 5 felony.

Rodney Lynn Mock, 10 Henderson Drive, Warsaw, was charged with solicitation of a child between 14 and 16 years of age after an incident that occurred when two minors spent the night at Mock’s residence.

On Jan. 1, a Winona Lake Police officer spoke with an adult who advised two minors had spent New Year’s Eve night at Mock’s residence.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, when one of the minor females woke up on Jan. 1, she found text messages of a sexual nature from Mock. The minor provided the messages to the adult and to the officer.

The officer viewed the messages and discovered they began on Jan. 1 around 2 a.m. The messages included sexually graphic comments.

At 11:45 a.m., a message states, “Sorry for what I said last night, I was drunk and I will go to jail for a long time what I said to you sorry.”

Mock admitted to police that the minors are friends and were at his residence during Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Mock also admitted to sending the minor female multiple messages requesting that she come out of the bedroom. He further admitted that he asked the minor not to tell anyone because he would be in trouble.

Superior Court Judge David Cates sentenced Mock to three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, to be served through Michiana Community Corrections. Mock was given one day of jail time credit. Cates ordered one and one half years of the sentence to be suspended.

The suspended portion of the sentence is to be served on probation. The terms of probation include obtaining and maintaining employment, attending the Bowen Center for an assessment and all recommended follow up and having no contact with the victim. Mock was ordered to register as a sex offender and pay all court fees and fines. Additional terms of probation include Mock being ordered to abstain from alcoholic beverages and to refrain from communication with any individual under the age of 18 via electronic means.

Cates stated that if Mock has not been accepted into the Michiana Community Corrections program by 4 p.m. on Dec. 29, he will be submitted to the custody of the Kosciusko County sheriff.

“You have no criminal history. As best I can tell by the reports provided to me, this was an isolated incident in your life,” Cates said to Mock, “But make no mistake – it was a disgusting choice.”