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Citing the severity of the charge and the possibility of more charges, Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer denied a Mentone man's request for a bond reduction in a child molesting case.
Anthony DeMarco, 25, of 205 S. Oak St., Mentone, is being held on a $100,000 surety bond after being charged with child molesting, a Class A felony, in one case. He is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in fall 2004.
Information has been forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office for charges relating to incidents with four more victims. The charges recommended by the Warsaw Police Department include three Class A felony child molesting charges, three Class D felony child solicitation charges and one Class C sexual battery charge.
DeMarco's mother, Jenny Lou Layne of Mentone, testified before Huffer and said DeMarco lives with her and has lived in the Fulton and Kosciusko County area his whole life. She also said his father and only living grandparent live in Fulton County as well.
Layne said DeMarco is an honest person and when asked if she thought he would run away, replied, "I don't believe he would."
"He is not a passing-through-the-county person," said DeMarco's defense attorney Mike Miner. "He has roots in the Kosciusko County area."
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton told the court that he did not believe the $100,000 bond was an unreasonable amount considering the circumstances in the case.
"With the possibility/probability of additional charges being filed," said Huffer, "the motion to reduce the bond is denied."
DeMarco appeared and entered a plea of not guilty in Kosciusko Superior Court I in front of Judge Duane Huffer at an initial hearing Monday morning. DeMarco's omnibus date was set for May 14, with a pretrial conference set for May 23. A status conference will take place April 20 in the prosecutor's office.
To date, DeMarco's alleged victims range in age from 13 to 17 years old.
WPD and Kosciusko County Child Protective Services have been investigating the case, which now spans at least three counties, since March 7.
The Kosciusko Community YMCA, where he was employed part-time, suspended DeMarco March 9 after the allegations surfaced. The YMCA then issued a letter to its members and released a statement regarding the incident.
Police believe most of the victims were introduced to DeMarco during his employment at the YMCA and related camps and outings. DeMarco was hired at the Kosciusko Community YMCA as the youth sports coordinator in 2001 and held various positions over the past four years. He was a youth center supervisor, climbing wall supervisor and was involved in various summer camps, Kids' Night Out activities and Kids' Club before- and after-school activities.
DeMarco was a fourth- and fifth-grade basketball coach at the former Burket Elementary School, a substitute teacher in the area and a reserve police officer in Mentone and 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.
WPD is encouraging any parent who is aware that their child had any contact with DeMarco to contact them at 574-372-9538 or 574-372-9535 or to call Child Protective Services at 574-267-8108.
Warsaw detectives continue to interview possible victims and will forward more charges to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office if appropriate.
