Stephen Joseph Michael, Mug shot courtesy of Greene County Sheriff’s Department

A Worthington man accused of sexually abusing three children over a number of years was picked up this evening by the WPD Town Marshal on a warrant for his arrest issued earlier today. Following an initial report taken by the Worthington Police Department, an investigation by an Indiana State Police detective resulted in a prosecutor filing 11 felony counts involving rapes, incest incidents, child molestations and sexual misconduct with minors. Bond has been set at $185,000.

Stephen J. Michael, 44, 201 Wabash Avenue, Worthington, was arrested by Town Marshal Jim O’Malley of the Worthington Police Department this evening, Friday, October 16, on a warrant that was issued out of Greene Circuit Court by Judge Erik Allen earlier today.

Michael was taken into custody around 8 p.m. and has been booked into the Greene County Jail where he’s being held on a bond of $185,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. It would take a surety bond or $18,500 cash for him to bond out and be released.

The date when Michael will appear in court for his initial hearing has not been set but he’s going to be charged with a long list of serious felonies.

Greene County Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh filed the case today, to charge Michael with the following 11 counts:

Rape when compelled by force or imminent threat of force, a Level 3 felony, occurred August 11, 2017,
Sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class B felony, occurred August 10, 2012,
Incest, a Level 5 felony, occurred August 11, 2017,
Child molesting involving intercourse or deviate sex with a victim less than 14, a Class A felony, occurred June 1, 2010,
Sexual misconduct with a minor involving intercourse or other sexual conduct, a Level 4 felony, occurred June 22, 2015,
Sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class B felony, occurred June 22, 2014,
Incest, victim is less than 16 years old, a Level 4 felony, occurred June 22, 2015,
Rape when compelled by force or imminent threat of force, a Class B felony, occurred June 22, 2012,
Child molesting involving intercourse or deviate sex with victim less than 14, a Class A felony, occurred June 22, 2012,
Child molesting involving fondling or touching with child under the age of 14, a Level 4 felony, occurred September 18, 2016, and
Child molesting involving fondling or touching with child under the age of 14, a Level 4 felony, occurred September 18, 2015.

These incidents allegedly occurred over a period of years, some dating back to the time before Indiana’s law was changed to establish the current Level 1-6 felony classification. So, some of the counts are being charged under the Level 1-6 felony classification and others are being charged under the former Class A-D felony classification.

The investigation began on September 5 when Town Marshal Jim O’Malley of the Worthington Police Department took a report on alleged rape and child molestations. The allegations were that Stephen Michael had molested and raped three family members. The initial report was that the alleged abuse of one of these victims started at the age of five and continued until the age of 19. The length of time for another victim was not known. The alleged abuse of the third victim was believed to have started at the age of five or six and continued for a few years.

Marshal O’Malley requested assistance from the Indiana State Police and early September 8, the case was assigned to ISP Detective Stacy Brown from the ISP Criminal Investigations Division.

Since that time, Det. Brown arranged for the alleged victims to all have forensic interviews at Susie’s Place located in either Bloomington or Terre Haute.

Det. Brown’s investigation resulted in a probable cause affidavit that is over 14 pages long, single-spaced in a small font, detailing all of the interviews and information gathered. It includes the various steps taken in the investigation and evidence gleaned from search warrants executed on the residence of Michael, various cell phones, a camera and a DVD, as well as interviews with other family members and individuals.

The evidence and information from the investigation is lengthy and sensitive and will not be included in this initial story in order to get it posted this evening.

Officers from the Worthington Police Department assisted in the investigation.