Suspected child molester arrested Thursday morning, bond set at $40,000

Within hours after an LPD officer was dispatched to the hospital about a case of possible molestation involving a three-year-old child, a Linton man, formerly of Bloomfield, was in jail facing three felony counts and a bond set at $40,000.

Edward Duane Hall

Edward Duane Hall, 30, was arrested by Sgt. Logan Hobbs of the Linton Police Department early Thursday. Court records and the record at the jail show Hall with a home address on East State Road 58 in Bloomfield but information in the probable cause affidavit indicates Hall was living with family members at a home in Linton when the incident occurred and at the time of his arrest.

Sgt. Hobbs began an investigation when he was dispatched to Greene County General Hospital at 12:37 a.m. yesterday, Thursday, September 27, about a possible child molestation.

Hobbs reported that he talked to the mother of the alleged victim who said she was at her home in Linton earlier in the evening, around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26, when two of her young children ran into her room to tell her what they had just seen Hall do to another young child, a sibling that was just three years old. The children described inappropriate sexual acts.

Hobbs includes details of the alleged incident in his affidavit, which will not be included in this story.

The child was transferred from Greene County General to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis where a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) was performed and evidence collected.

During the course of his investigation at the hospital and at the home where the incident allegedly took place, Hobbs collected items of clothing that the child was wearing during the incident.

Two of the children were taken to Susie’s Place in Bloomington for forensic interviews. Hobbs said the interviewer was unable to establish an understandable line of communication with one due to their verbal abilities and the other was not willing to discuss the incident at that time.

Hall was first interviewed at the police department then interviewed again later at the sheriff’s department. Sgt. Hobbs reported that Hall first told one story and Hobbs told him the story did not seem believable.

When given a chance to be honest, Hall allegedly admitted a small moment of weakness and this was the first time he had done anything like this with a child though he had thought about it a few times in the past. Hobbs said Hall repeatedly said he felt bad and was sorry, and signed a note of apology.

During a third interview, Hall allegedly offered some more details about the incident.

Hall was booked in around 3:13 a.m. yesterday morning.

On Friday, Greene County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh filed a criminal case against Hall.

When Hall appears in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing, he is expected to be charged with child molesting – a Level 1 felony, child molesting involving foundling or touching with a child under the age of 14 – a Level 4 felony, and performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor – a Level 6 felony.

His bond is set at $40,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed.