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An alleged child molester was in court for an initial hearing on more charges Thursday afternoon.
Anthony James DeMarco, 25, of 205 S. Oak St., Mentone, who was charged with three counts of child molesting earlier this year, now faces three additional counts of child molesting in two more cases. DeMarco's trial in the first Class A child molesting case filed is scheduled to begin Aug. 23.
Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Duane Huffer read the charges against DeMarco in open court around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Two of the new charges, that DeMarco allegedly "did with a child under 14 years of age ... perform or submit to fondling or touching of either the child or himself, with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of either the child or himself," are Class C felonies. The other count is a Class D felony for "deviate sexual conduct" with a child under the age of 14, related to one of the additional Class C molesting charges.
The new charges stem from incidents that reportedly occurred in 2004 and 2005.
Entering the courtroom in a faded jail uniform with "Kosciusko County Jail" across the back in red letters, DeMarco sat quietly in the courtroom, looking directly at Judge Huffer as the additional charges were read.
DeMarco requested that Michael Miner be retained as his lawyer for the additional charges during the 10-minute hearing.
Judge Huffer set Sept. 7 as the omnibus date and pre-trial hearing for the latest charges against DeMarco.
DeMarco was arrested March 11 for one charge of child molesting, a Class A felony. In that charge, DeMarco is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in fall 2004.
On March 31, two additional warrants for Class A felony child molesting were served to DeMarco at the Kosciusko County Jail. Those two charges were filed for DeMarco's alleged involvement with two boys under 14 years of age.
DeMarco was being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $100,000 surety bond for the first charge. Each additional charge added $75,000, making DeMarco's total surety bond $250,000.
Judge Huffer issued a gag order in the case March 22 after DeMarco's attorney field a document to request it, citing media attention surrounding the case and the possibility of tainting the jury pool. Public documents filed regarding the case are still available in the Kosciusko County Justice Building, but officials involved in the case are not allowed to comment.
The Warsaw Police Department and Kosciusko County Child Protective Services have been investigating the case, which now spans at least four counties, since March 7.
The Kosciusko Community YMCA suspended DeMarco March 9 after the molestation allegations surfaced. The YMCA then issued a letter to its members and released a statement regarding the incident.
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.
