The investigation of a molestation case against a Mentone man arrested Friday evening now spans at least three counties.

The Warsaw Police Department received numerous information calls and more allegations of molestation against Anthony James DeMarco, 25, of 205 S. Oak St., Mentone, over the weekend. At least two of the calls came from two different counties, although police are not releasing the names of those counties. Demarco is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in fall 2004.

DeMarco, who is currently being held on a $100,000 surety bond, appeared and entered a plea of not guilty in Kosciusko Superior Court I in front of Judge Duane Huffer at a 9:15 a.m. initial hearing today. DeMarco faces 20 to 50 years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty of child molesting, a Class A felony.

Huffer set DeMarco's omnibus date for May 14, with a pretrial conference set for May 23. A status conference will take place April 20 in the prosecutor's office.

When DeMarco requested a court-appointed attorney, Huffer named Jay A. Rigdon to the defense.

According to Warsaw Police Lt. Steve Adang, the police department is in the process of sorting through calls and interviewing witnesses. The process will be lengthy, and more charges are expected against DeMarco.

DeMarco was arrested Friday after Warsaw Police received information that he allegedly molested at least one child at the Kosciusko Community YMCA, where DeMarco worked part-time.

The YMCA suspended DeMarco Wednesday after the allegations surfaced. The YMCA then issued a letter to members of the YMCA to inform them of the allegations and encourage them to step forward with and information they may have.

"We want to learn the extent of any possible infractions against any of our members. If your child does relate to you any behavior you consider to be inappropriate, please call me and we will treat the matter confidentially and urgently," the letter from CEO Steve Jungbauer said.

The YMCA also issued a statement regarding the incident:

"Senior staff and volunteers of the Kosciusko County YMCA have been shocked and greatly disappointed to learn of allegations of possible sexual and other misconduct by a part-time staff member of our YMCA involving young members of our Y. These allegations, if sustained, would represent a grave betrayal of our YMCA, its members and all that the Kosciusko County YMCA stands for.

"Upon hearing these allegations, we reported them to the Warsaw Police and the Child Protection Services and suspended the individual in question immediately, pending the outcome of their investigations. We have not received any information that alleged sexual misconduct occurred at the Kosciusko Community YMCA.

"The Kosciusko County YMCA performs background checks on all staffers and the part-time staffer under investigation passed such checks at the time of his hiring."

The Warsaw Police Department and Kosciusko County Child Protective Services have been investigating the case since Wednesday.

DeMarco was a fourth- and fifth-grade basketball coach at the former Burket Elementary School, a substitute teacher in the area and a reserve officer in Silver Lake. He also was employed at Whitley County YMCA and worked in other jobs in places where he reportedly spent time around young boys.

Police established probable cause for DeMarco's arrest after interviewing children who implicated him for allegedly molesting them.

DeMarco allegedly befriended parents, then found ways to be alone with their children, usually young boys.

The Warsaw Police Department is encouraging anyone with information to contact them at 574-372-9538 and leave a message.

Although details are not necessary in the message, the police are asking people with information to leave a callback number. [[In-content Ad]]