Foster Parent Held In Molesting

A Warsaw man who worked as the managing director of a local juvenile shelter and as a foster parent was preliminarily charged with fondling three teen-age girls.

David Ellis Caudill, 49, of 1763 W. CR 300S, Warsaw, was preliminarily charged with child molest/fondling, when he was booked into Kosciusko County Jail at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. He is being held while awaiting a preliminary hearing. No bond has been set.

According to authorities, Caudill allegedly fondled three teen-age girls in his care as foster children in the past year. Preliminary investigation found no incidents occurred at the juvenile shelter, Kosciusko County Sheriff Al Rovenstine said.

"He has been suspended until the investigation can play out," said Juvenile Shelter board president Mike Gromley. His foster care duties have been temporarily suspended too, pending the completion of the investigation, said Peggy Shively, director of Kosciusko County Division of Family and Children.

In the meantime, the three girls were moved to safe placements, Shively said. Letters were sent to the counties that placed children through the agency making them aware of the alleged incidents, she added.

Investigators acted quickly after receiving reports Tuesday from an area school that one of their students reported being fondled by a foster parent. The alleged incident in which the teen was fondled reportedly occurred Saturday, Rovenstine said.

"Interviews were conducted quickly to get to the bottom of the incident," Rovenstine said. He added that additional interviews may be held to further investigate the case.

Three girls who were interviewed by investigators allege that Caudill fondled them, but no further contact was reported, according to authorities.

Caudill has been managing director of the juvenile shelter for 10 months, Gromley said. The center provides a temporary place for kids who have to be placed out of their homes until a safe home can be found.

Caudill has been a licensed foster parent since February 1991.