Staff Report

WARSAW — A Warsaw man is facing two charges of child molestation after allegedly having sexual contact with a 14-year-old.

Sidney Raymond Ousley

Sidney Raymond Ousley, 19, 1131 E. Madison St. Rochester, is charged with child molesting, a level 3 felony; and child molesting, a level 4 felony.

On April 27, dispatch advised of a juvenile who had left their residence to walk a dog and could not be located by the family. A Warsaw Police officer made contact with the child’s legal guardian. The guardian said the youth had asked to take the dog for a walk around 9:30 p.m. and was told “no,” but the minor left with the dog anyway.

Officers began searching the area for the youth, who was eventually found by a family member. At approximately 10:44 p.m. dispatch advised officers that the youth’s mother was requesting that officers return to the residence after she learned that the minor had been interacting with a 19-year-old male earlier in the evening. 

The youth’s mother said that while searching the minor’s phone she found a sexually charged conversation between the minor and an older man named Sidney Ousley. During the investigation, officers learned that Ousley used to date the minor’s sibling, was still a friend of the sibling and had spent time with the minor and the minor’s sibling that day.

The youth admitted leaving the house with the dog and going to the park to meet Ousley, who was waiting in a minivan. According to the youth, Ousley invited the minor into the van then drove a short distance away and parked. The minor said that while in the van, Ousley touched the youth “everywhere.” Eventually, the minor exited the van and began walking home. 

Police reviewed the messages between Ousley and the minor, which were related to a arranging a rendezvous for the purpose of having sex. In one of the messages, Ousley allegedly indicated that he did not want to get caught.

The minor told police that the minor and Ousley engaged in sexual contact and that this was the first time any sexual contact had occurred between the two. The minor said that Ousley was aware of the minor’s age due to Ousley’s prior relationship with the minor’s sibling. 

Police spoke with a relative of Ousley’s, who said Ousley had told a friend of the relative’s that he engaged in sexual contact with the minor. A detective tracked down the friend, who said she learned of the incident by viewing text messages.

Between April 28 and May 6, police made numerous attempts to find Ousley in order to obtain his version of the events.

When an officer was finally able to speak with Ousley by phone to set up an interview, Ousley said he had been attempting to reach out to law enforcement to tell his side of the story but no one would talk to him. Several appointments were scheduled and rescheduled with Ousley but he did not show up for the appointments. 

Ousley was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail Sept. 15 on a  $200,250 surety and cash bond.