A 49-year-old Jasonville man is behind bars at the Greene County Jail following a Feb. 21 warrant arrest for eight counts of child molesting.

Billy Jean Mitchell was arrested on a warrant, which was issued Feb. 12, for four counts of child molesting where the defendant is at least 21 years of age and four counts of child molesting-folding or touching with a child under the age of 14. He’s also being held on charges of contempt of court and child support purge. For the child molesting charges, his bond is set at $220,000 surety with 10% cash allowed, while the child support purge charge has a bond of $200 set.

According to a probable cause affidavit written by Indiana State Police Trooper Kent Rohlfing, Mitchell was accused of molesting the victim, his step-daughter, on multiple occasions. During an interview with the victim, which took place with Indiana State Police Sgt. Chris Fears in January 2023, the victim did not recall the first time it happened as she said it happened so many times. The victim alleged Mitchell touched her breasts, bottom, and private areas with his hands. She also alleged Mitchell touched her private areas with his mouth on multiple occasions.

While the victim did not recall when the first incident took place, she thought it might have started when she was in third grade. According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim told officers it wasn’t that she doesn’t remember the things happening, it was that she doesn’t want to remember them. She alleged incidents occurred every night or every other night. She alleged she would try to close her legs, but he would force them apart.

The victim, according to the probable cause, alleged Mitchell’s clothes remained on during all of the incidents. She also noted that many of the incidents took place in her mother’s bed after her mother left the residence. She claimed Mitchell told her not to tell anyone about the incidents.

While driving around, the victim told officers she would sit next to Mitchell and he would use his hands to touch her private area. The victim also alleged once she was woken up to Mitchell touching her private area with his mouth.

Officers spoke to a witness who indicated that while in the vehicle with the victim and Mitchell, she observed Mitchell touching the victim’s bare thigh. The witness said she did not witness anything between the victim and Mitchell.

Mitchell faces four counts of child molesting where the defendant is at least 21 years old, each a Level 1 Felony and four counts of child molesting-fondling or touching with a child less than 14 years of age, each a Level 4 Felony.