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Worthington man arrested yesterday after WPD investigation

After allegations were made against a Worthington man accusing him of sexual misconduct with a minor, the Worthington Police Department began an investigation and a few days later, the suspect was arrested and is now facing a felony charge.

Michael Joseph Rasor

Michael Joseph Rasor, 20, Worthington, was arrested by Worthington Town Marshal Jacob Gambill on Thursday afternoon, October 27, following an investigation that started last weekend.

Around 12:25 AM last Saturday, October 22, Officer Gambill responded after Greene County Dispatch got a 911 call about an active incident going on in Worthington. The caller said their 14-year old friend had contacted them and said they were being sexually harassed by an adult friend later identified as Michael Rasor. Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Stanley and Bloomfield Deputy Marshal Ryan Montgomery were also dispatched to the scene which was Rasor’s apartment on East Union Street in Worthington.

When Officer Gambill arrived, Deputy Stanley had placed the alleged victim in his patrol vehicle and Officer Montgomery said Rasor was still inside his apartment.

The victim told Deputy Stanley that he had been hanging out with Rasor since about 8:00 PM and before that, they had been texting each other planning to drink and play Xbox. He allegedly told the deputy that when he got to Rasor's apartment, he was provided with alcohol and they had been playing Xbox but then Rasor said he was tired and going to sleep on the couch then tried to cuddle with him and ran his hands across the victim’s private areas multiple times.

When Deputy Stanley contacted a parent of the victim and asked him to come to the scene, the parent consented to a warrantless search of the victim’s cell phone and the victim also agreed to have the messages with Rasor photographed.

Officer Gambill reported the messages started on Wednesday, October 19, using a texting application called “text now” that uses Wi-Fi instead of cellular service. The text of the messages, included in a probable cause affidavit prepared by Officer Gambill, continued over two or three days and show Rasor’s invitations to the juvenile to come to his residence to play Xbox, spend the night, and arrange a meeting place and arrange a ride for the juvenile to go to Rasor’s residence.

Officer Gambill made contact with the Department of Child Services
(DCS) and a caseworker arranged an interview for the victim at Susie's Place in Bloomington. According to Officer Gambill, during the interview, the victim was able to explain what happened in detail.

At the time of the incident, Rasor was first transported to the Worthington Police Department for an interview but after being advised of his Miranda rights, he requested to speak with an attorney. He did verify his address and contact information and the phone number provided matched the phone number in the text conversations.

On Wednesday, October 26, a search warrant for Rasor’s cell phone was granted out of Greene Superior Court.

On Thursday, October 27, Rasor was at the Greene County Probation Department to talk to his probation officer then was brought to a conference room in the probation department to speak to Officer Gambill and Indiana State Police Detective Ian Matthews in an attempt to interview him about the allegations made against him. Rasor said his attorney advised him not to make any statements.

Rasor’s cell phone was obtained and Rasor then left the courthouse. Officer Gambill reported that a short time later, Rasor was arrested and transported to the sheriff's department where he was booked into the Greene County Jail at 2:16 PM with bond set at $4000 surety with 10% cash allowed. Razor posted $400 and was released later the same day.

A criminal case was filed against Rasor earlier today, Friday, October 28, in Greene Superior Court on a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 6 felony. His initial hearing is scheduled for November 7.