By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

Earl E. Myers Jr.

WARSAW — A Warsaw man will serve 48 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of molesting a child.

During a two-day jury trial on Aug. 4 and 5, Earl E. Myers Jr., 50, Warsaw, was found guilty of child molesting, a level 1 felony; and child molesting, a level 4 felony.

Myers was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

For the Level 1 felony, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Myers to 40 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Myers also received an eight-year DOC sentence for the Level 4 felony, with both sentences to be served back-to-back.

Myers has 390 days of jail time credit. A no-contact order between Myers and the child remains in effect. Myers is also required to register as a sex offender.

Myers told the court he intends to file an appeal.

At sentencing, a brief victim impact statement from the child was read aloud in court by Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Sobek.

“Leave me alone and don’t be around me again,” read the statement. “Not to be rude, but I don’t like (Earl).”

The child’s father also gave a statement, becoming visibly emotional while standing and maintaining eye contact with Myers.

“I love my kids and I hope you get what you deserve,” said the father to Myers. “I’m hurting because my child is hurting. I hope you get the same thing every day.”

Myers gave a statement in court, maintaining his innocence and describing the incident as a “set-up.”

“I never did anything to (the child),” said Myers. “Everything from the get-go has been a set-up involving my ex-wife and (the child’s father.) I was raised by a good man not to do anything like that. I feel (the child’s father) is trying to hurt me, and it’s hurting my family and kids.”

Myers also told the court he’s been taking auto mechanic courses while incarcerated, stating he’ll probably lose his commercial driver’s license as a result of the case.

Sobek noted the child’s age as just one aggravator for the court to consider in sentencing Myers. He mentioned the child’s intellectual issues made them “the perfect victim.”

“I hope the child and their family heal from this,” said Sobek.

Defense Attorney Brian Pyle said Myers had a very limited criminal history and has been a productive member of society up until the case was filed. He requested the sentences for each charge be served at the same time and for Myers to receive the minimum sentence required by state statute.

“At some stage of your life, you decided a young child could be an object of desire,” said McGrath. “And this was the ideal victim. You thought their communication issues meant they wouldn’t effectively tell what happened. You were wrong.”

McGrath commended the child’s father and babysitter for believing the child and taking immediate action.

“I wish every victim of an unspeakable offense had a family like that,” said McGrath. “And I hope they teach them that they did nothing wrong, that it’s not their fault, that they did the right, brave thing in saying the truth. I hope this child and their family can heal from what you’ve done.”

Affidavit of Probable Cause

On July 31, 2024, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a report of a child molestation. A man said he dropped a child off at a hotel on July 19, 2024, and picked them up on July 21, 2024. Myers lived at the hotel.

According to court documents, the child’s babysitter was helping them bathe when they mentioned being inappropriately touched by Myers.

A forensic interview was completed on Aug. 2, 2024. During the interview, the child described being touched by Myers and said the touching occurred more than one time.

Myers denied inappropriately touching the child.

The child’s babysitter told officers she was helping the child bathe when the child said Myers’ name while their hand was near their genitalia.

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