Syracuse Man Facing Child Molesting, Other Charges

June 21, 2024 at 6:31 p.m.
Kirk Zuber
Kirk Zuber

By JACKIE GORSKI Lifestyles Editor

A Syracuse man has been arrested after allegedly molesting a child under 14.
Kirk Andrew Zuber, 68, of 6161 E. Pickwick Park Drive, Syracuse, is charged with child molesting, a level 4 felony; battery to a person less than 14 years of age by a person at least 18 years of age, a level 5 felony; and sexual battery, a level 6 felony.
He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 1:02 p.m. Thursday on a $15,250 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 22, 2023, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office detective became aware of an alleged child molestation incident.
On Aug. 1, 2023, the child submitted to a forensic interview at the Cherish Advocacy Center for Children in Hamilton County. The child said Zuber touched them inappropriately while they were by the fire at Zuber’s house. During the interview, the child stated they, their mother and Zuber visited another residence.
The child said Zuber offered the child wine to drink. The child believed Zuber drank a couple glasses of wine and brought the empty bottle home.
The child said they and Zuber were sitting around a campfire late on July 20, 2023. Zuber invited the child to sit on his lap, which they did. When the child and Zuber were alone after people went in to bed, Zuber pushed his hand up the child’s shirt. The child also said Zuber rubbed them and it hurt.
Zuber then kissed the child and told them he loved them.
The child said they told what happened to a friend. The friend told the child to tell their mother, which they did, according to court documents.
On Sept. 6, 2023, the friend completed a forensical interview at Cherish Advocacy Center for Children and said the child was sexually assaulted by Zuber, according to court documents. The child contacted the friend late on July 20, 2023, or July 21, 2023, via text message and asked the friend if they were available to talk. The friend Facetimed the child. The child cried and was visibly upset, stated court documents. The child texted while on Facetime how to tell their mother something had happened. The child told the friend they experience sexual assault. The friend told the child to tell their mother.

A Syracuse man has been arrested after allegedly molesting a child under 14.
Kirk Andrew Zuber, 68, of 6161 E. Pickwick Park Drive, Syracuse, is charged with child molesting, a level 4 felony; battery to a person less than 14 years of age by a person at least 18 years of age, a level 5 felony; and sexual battery, a level 6 felony.
He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 1:02 p.m. Thursday on a $15,250 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 22, 2023, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office detective became aware of an alleged child molestation incident.
On Aug. 1, 2023, the child submitted to a forensic interview at the Cherish Advocacy Center for Children in Hamilton County. The child said Zuber touched them inappropriately while they were by the fire at Zuber’s house. During the interview, the child stated they, their mother and Zuber visited another residence.
The child said Zuber offered the child wine to drink. The child believed Zuber drank a couple glasses of wine and brought the empty bottle home.
The child said they and Zuber were sitting around a campfire late on July 20, 2023. Zuber invited the child to sit on his lap, which they did. When the child and Zuber were alone after people went in to bed, Zuber pushed his hand up the child’s shirt. The child also said Zuber rubbed them and it hurt.
Zuber then kissed the child and told them he loved them.
The child said they told what happened to a friend. The friend told the child to tell their mother, which they did, according to court documents.
On Sept. 6, 2023, the friend completed a forensical interview at Cherish Advocacy Center for Children and said the child was sexually assaulted by Zuber, according to court documents. The child contacted the friend late on July 20, 2023, or July 21, 2023, via text message and asked the friend if they were available to talk. The friend Facetimed the child. The child cried and was visibly upset, stated court documents. The child texted while on Facetime how to tell their mother something had happened. The child told the friend they experience sexual assault. The friend told the child to tell their mother.

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