North Vernon man arrested on rape and child molesting charges

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - The Jennings County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) on Wednesday, August 12, announced the arrest of 70-year-old Ronald Brown of North Vernon on felony charges arising from an investigation into the sexual abuse of a child.

The Sheriff's Office received a report on June 18 alleging that an adult victim had been sexually abused by Brown over a period of years, beginning when the victim was a child under the age of 14.

JCSO detectives began an investigation, which included interviews with the reporting parties. On June 23, detectives conducted a recorded interview with Brown. The suspect made no admissions and was not arrested at that time, as the investigation continued. 

Following additional interviews with those involved, detectives established probable cause and referred charges to the Jennings County Prosecutor's Office.

The Prosecutor's Office filed charges, and a warrant for Brown's arrest was issued on August 12. At that time, he was taken into custody and booked into the Jennings County Jail on the charges of Rape (Class B felony) and Child Molesting (Class B felony) 

Brown is being held without bond pursuant to Indiana Code § 35-33-8-3.5(c)(3). He is a registered sex offender who was previously convicted of a felony sex offense involving a child and is currently on community corrections supervision.