Staff Report

Douglas E. Miles

CHURUBUSCO — A Churubusco man was recently arrested after allegedly molesting a child on multiple occasions.

Douglas E. Miles, 71, 235 Clingerman Ave. Apartment 18, Churubusco, is charged with four counts of child molesting, all level 1 felonies; three counts of child solicitation, all level 5 felonies; performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor, a level 6 felony; and three counts of child molesting, all level 4 felonies.

On Dec. 18, 2021, the Churubusco Police Department was notified of a child molesting.

On Dec. 21, 2021, a forensic interview was conducted with a child who said Miles was inappropriate with them.

According to court documents, the child said Miles would check on them when they were showering; he attempted to kiss them and motioned to their genital area. Miles also inappropriately touched himself in the child’s presence.

The child said the inappropriate interactions happened more than one time. Miles rubbed lotion on the child after they showered and inappropriately touched them during this. He also showed the child pictures of genitalia on his phone. The child said Miles told them to never tell anyone about what happened or he would be in trouble.

On Jan. 12, 2022, Miles was interviewed by officers about the molestations.

He said the child would put lotion on his legs and that he put lotion on the child’s back, arms, and legs one time.

When asked about pictures on his phone, Miles said another person put an app on his phone that he confirmed showed depictions of naked women. He said when the child was playing with their phone, they found the pictures.

Officers told Miles about the forensic interview with the child and that it was detailed enough that they were confident the child told the truth about the molestations.

Miles recalled one instance where he saw the child inappropriately touch themselves; he told officers the child said they would tell people he touched them, then later apologized.

He also said there was one time he thought the child was either asleep or watching television, but they were actually showering. When Miles entered the bathroom, he saw the child naked.

Miles denied having inappropriate conversations with the child and also denied inappropriately touching himself in the child’s presence.

When asked further questions by officers, Miles recalled one time when the child was sitting on his lap and had him inappropriately touch them.

Near the end of the interview, Miles said he inappropriately touched the child.

Miles was booked in the Whitley County Jail on Feb. 14.