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A Mentone man convicted of four counts of Class A felony child molesting in January will spend 120 years in prison.
Anthony J. DeMarco, 26, of 205 S. Oak St., Mentone, was found guilty of child molesting after a three-day trial in front of a 12-person jury in January.
Today in Kosciusko Superior Court I, Judge Duane Huffer heard statements from Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton, DeMarco's attorney Michael Lambert and DeMarco himself.
"Basically, something did happen," said DeMarco, who added that what was said in the courtroom was not the true story.
"All my life I have tried to gain the trust of people. I am a trustworthy person," DeMarco told the judge.
Hampton described Demarco as "the worst kind of predator" who "created opportunities to satisfy his own perverted sexual desires.
"He is a monster (who should) never be allowed to prey on another child again."
In his statement, DeMarco said, "They say I'm a monster, I'm not. I am human, I made a mistake. If given another chance, I can still do great things in the world."
Lambert asked the judge for a fair sentence that would have sentences for all four counts served concurrently.
"I'm not sure if the full truth has ever come out or if it ever will," Lambert said.
"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused everyone," DeMarco said. "(The victim) was like my little brother. His family was like my family.
"Because of the media, this whole thing was blown out of proportion."
Before announcing the sentence, Judge Huffer addressed DeMarco.
"(The victim) is not a liar. (With his) testimony, he has broken free from the chains of embarrassment put on him by you. ... You coerced, seduced and molested (the victim)."
Judge Huffer then said DeMarco would spend 30 years in prison for each of the four counts of Class A felony child molesting. The terms will be served consecutively in the Indiana Department of Corrections. DeMarco also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
Jurors in the case heard testimony from 13 prosecution witnesses, including the victim, and one defense witness.
The victim told the jury DeMarco performed various sex acts on him between 2002 and 2004 while DeMarco lived at the boy's family home. DeMarco slept in the boy's room and the two often shared a bed.
After four hours of deliberation Jan. 19, a jury returned the guilty verdict, then decided that Judge Duane Huffer should consider six aggravating factors during the sentencing process. Aggravating factors allow the judge to increase the sentence of a convicted person.
The six aggravators in the DeMarco case were: (1) By committing the offense(s) the defendant violated the trust he held with the victim of the offenses; (2) the risk the defendant will commit another crime; (3) the nature and circumstances of the crime committed; (4) the defendant's character; (5) the defendant is in need of correctional or rehabilitation treatment that can best be provided by commitment of the defendant to a penal facility; and (6) the imposition of a reduced sentence or suspension of the sentence and imposition of probation would depreciate the seriousness of the crime.
DeMarco was set to stand trial for another Class A felony child molesting charge and three Class C felony child molesting charges today, but trial dates for those charges were continued. Trials for two additional cases are set for July 10 and Aug. 7. A pre-trial hearing for both cases will be May 31.
Judge Huffer issued a gag order in the case March 22 after DeMarco's attorney filed a document requesting it, citing media attention surrounding the case and the possibility of tainting the jury pool. Public documents filed in the case are available in the Kosciusko County Justice Building, but officials involved in the case were not allowed to comment.
The Warsaw Police Department and Kosciusko County Child Protective Services began investigating the case March 7.
DeMarco was suspended from his part-time job at the Kosciusko Community YMCA March 9 after allegations of inappropriate conduct surfaced. The YMCA then issued a letter to its members and released a statement regarding the incident.
Police believe many of the victims were introduced to DeMarco during his employment at the YMCA and related camps and outings, although no evidence shows anyone was abused at the facility. DeMarco was hired at the Kosciusko Community YMCA as the youth sports coordinator in 2001 and held various positions in the four years he worked there.
DeMarco was a fourth- and fifth-grade basketball coach at the former Burket Elementary School, a substitute teacher in the area, a court-appointed special advocate, a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters and a reserve police officer in Mentone and Silver Lake. He also was employed at Whitley County YMCA.
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.
