In a case that dates back to 2016, James T. Erwin, now 37, of Bloomington, pleaded guilty this week and was sentenced to six years in prison with two of those years suspended. He was convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony. He’ll be eligible for good time credit but must serve 75 percent of his time behind bars – that’s at least three years. No details about the accusation against Erwin are included here – not available through the court, to protect confidential information.

This case was investigated by Greene County Prosecutor’s Investigator Julie Criger in 2016. Case filed, warrant issued and when he was arrested, his bond was set at $15,000 surety with ten percent allowed. After he appeared in court on December 14, 2016, he posted $1,500 cash and was released from jail.

A date for a jury trial was scheduled then vacated when a plea agreement was filed in November of 2017. When he appeared in court for the change of plea and sentencing hearing on January 10 of 2018, he withdrew from the plea agreement.

Another date was set for trial by jury but in April, another plea agreement was filed and this one stuck.

At a change of plea hearing on Wednesday before Judge Erik C. Allen in Greene Circuit Court, Erwin was convicted and sentenced. The State was represented by Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw. Erwin was represented by Public Defender Ellen Martin.

When Erwin is released from the DOC, he will be required to serve the two suspended years on probation and must comply with mandatory registration as a sex offender.

Erwin was given credit for six days already served when he was first arrested.

He was booked in to the Greene County Jail around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday to begin serving his time. Erwin was 35 when he was arrested, but according to jail records, Thursday was his birthday so he entered jail at age 37.