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WABASH COUNTY – Details from court documents filed in the child molesting case involving the Pleasant Township Fire Department assistant chief allege a minor was abused for several months.
Joel McColley, 35, of 1308 W. Ind. 144, apt. B, North Manchester, is charged with three counts of child molesting, level 4 felonies.
According to the probable cause affidavit, at about 7:57 p.m. June 13 a Wabash County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded to a call about suspected child abuse. The woman calling requested there be no radio traffic pertaining to the call as McCoy is the assistant fire chief for the Pleasant Township Fire Department, a volunteer firefighter with the Lagro Fire Department and volunteers for Wabash County Emergency Management. Because of his position on the fire department, he actively listens to all radio traffic, according to court documents.
The deputy arrived at the scene and spoke with the woman.
The woman said the minor told a family member they needed to tell them something. The minor said McColley had been touching them inappropriately since Christmas and the last time McColley touched them, he would put his hand down their pants. The minor also told the family member McColley has an app on his phone where he can track the woman. When the woman leaves the house, McColley has the minor get naked and get under the covers with him. The minor also said McColley made threats to take away their toys if they ever told anyone what was happening.
The woman then showed the deputy a series of text messages she received from a friend dated to April 19. In the messages, the friend said a family member of McColley’s sent the friend’s husband a “story” that contained child exportation/sexual abuse on an app. The friend said the message was meant to be shared with someone else on the family member’s group and it was not intended for the friend.
McColley agreed to speak with the deputy, where McColley was informed of the allegations and read his Miranda rights. McColley said he had no idea why the allegations would be made against him, but could be due to the fact they are together most of the time.
When asked if he had inappropriately touched the minor, McColley said he hadn’t done that, that he can remember.
McColley was suspended from all PTFD functions and positions and will be removed pending the results of any investigations and court proceedings. He has also been suspended from Wabash County Emergency Management.
Since McColley’s arrest, he has been released on bond following his initial hearing and is required to have no contact with the person he is accused of molesting.
A pretrial is set for Oct. 20 with a trial tentatively set to start Nov. 18.
