Obscene Video Lands Teen In JailA Silver Lake man was arrested last week after allegedly sending an obscene video to an underage girl and lying to her about serving in the military.
Austin Michael Sherburne, 18, of 205 E. Sycamore St., Silver Lake, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 7:24 p.m. Wednesday on preliminary charges of providing obscene material to minors and vicarious sexual gratification, with a bond set at $10,000 surety and $250 cash.
Court documents filed Monday list the charges against him as vicarious sexual gratification, a level 5 felony; and stolen valor, a Class A misdemeanor.
A charge of stolen valor is when a person – with the intent to obtain money, property or another benefit – knowingly or intentionally fraudulently represents himself to be an active member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
On Wednesday, officers went to Fellowship Missions, 1520 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw, and spoke with an employee who said he received information that Sherburne had used his cellphone in an attempt to organize a drug deal.
Sherburne confirmed with an officer that he attempted to organize a drug deal with his phone, according to court documents. He gave officers consent to look through his cellphone. In the contact area of the phone, officers saw a contact labeled “forever my wife,” which Sherburne said was his girlfriend.
As officers scrolled through the text messages with the girlfriend, they found the conversation began Jan. 26 and continued until Jan. 29.
In the texts, the girl says she is 14. Sherburne then asks her if she wants to “hook up.” She replied she did and where she lives. He then talks about wanting to be there so he can cuddle her and asks her what she’s wearing when she comes out of the shower. He then tells her to stimulate herself and think about him having sex with her. She replied she already was.
Officers also found that Sherburne was telling the girl he was in the Army Reserves 11 Bravo Infantry and that he is at drill in Indianapolis.
Court documents state Sherburne admitted to officers he knew that the girl was only 14 and that he sent a video of himself stimulating himself to her in an attempt to persuade the 14-year-old to send him photographs of herself.
He told officers he believes 12- and 13-year-old girls are very attractive and he is attracted more to younger women than older ones.
He also admitted he was not and is not in the military and uses the uniform to benefit himself, according to court documents.
