Back in May, a Worthington man was charged with a serious crime, child molesting, a Level 1 felony. As the case made its way toward a trial, it came to light that another Worthington man, who was a witness to the alleged crime, had lied. The felony case has since been dismissed. Yesterday a warrant for the arrest of the witness was issued.

Timothy Frederick Coleman, 31 at the time, was arrested on May 8 by then-Worthington Deputy Marshal Brittney Allen after Officer Allen and WPD Town Marshal Jim O’Malley responded to a residence in Worthington where two witnesses said they had just witnessed an incident of physical molestation by Coleman on a young child. Greene County Department of Child Services (DCS) was called and Coleman was booked into the Greene County Jail where his bond was set at $40,000. He posted $4,000 about three days later and was released before he appeared at an initial hearing in Greene Circuit Court.

That case has since been dismissed and a criminal case filed against one of the two witnesses.

Gregory Robert William Barnes, 19, Worthington, is accused of false informing and a warrant for his arrest was issued yesterday.

Town Marshal Jim O’Malley, the investigating officer in the case against Barnes, said that after police responded, Barnes and the other witness sat for interviews later in the day at the Worthington Police Department. In a probable cause affidavit prepared by O’Malley, he wrote that based on the eyewitness accounts of Barnes and the other witness, Coleman was immediately arrested.

O’Malley said Barnes was asked several times if he could have misinterpreted the incident and Barnes said he was giving a truthful and accurate recounting. At a later date, O’Malley again asked Barnes if his recollection had changed or if any new information had come to mind. Barnes stuck by his story.

Still later, when O’Malley talked to the second witness, she informed O’Malley that Barnes had told Coleman that his report was false and that he didn’t see the incident.

After that occurred, when O’Malley interviewed Barnes again at the police department, Barnes allegedly admitted he had lied during the initial interview.

According to Officer O’Malley, Barnes said he was in the living room of the residence where the incident had allegedly occurred, but Barnes was playing games on his cell phone and did not witness Coleman inappropriately touch the child. He said the other witness told him what she saw and he just went along with her story.

Barnes allegedly lied to officers several times during the course of the investigation into the case against Coleman.

Barnes then got a subpoena from the court to report for a deposition which was taken in September.

On October 29, the prosecution filed a motion to dismiss the case against Coleman. Motion granted. Coleman’s bond money has since been released. Case closed.

In the Motion to Dismiss, Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw wrote that when both the State and the defense took depositions in the case against Coleman, “One of the eyewitnesses to this crime, Greg Barnes, now says he lied to police during his initial statement. He now says this crime did not occur.”

Prosecutor Holtsclaw continued, “As the alleged victim was too young to provide a statement and there is no physical evidence to support the remaining witness’s statement, there is insufficient evidence to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Holtsclaw added he intended to charge Barnes with false informing and a few days later, on November 6, a criminal case was filed against Barnes in Greene Superior Court.

A summons was issued and sent to Barnes ordering him to appear in court for an initial hearing at 1 p.m. yesterday, Monday, December 14.

Barnes is facing a preliminary charge of false informing resulting in a substantial hindrance to a law enforcement procedure, a Class A misdemeanor.

Barnes was a no-show at the hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest.