Syracuse Man Faces Molesting ChargesA Syracuse man is behind bars and accused of molesting a child for seven years.
Erwin Frank Obando, 59, of 1014 N. Huntington St., Syracuse, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday and faces charges for child molesting, a Level 4 felony; and sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 5 felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Friday in Kosciusko Superior Court I, on Dec. 12 a detective with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Department of Child Services that child molesting had occurred.
When the DCS caseworker spoke with the child, according to court papers, the child said Obando had been sexually touching and fondling her for the past seven years, since she was 7 years old. The child described being touched at least 20 occasions during that time. The child also told police that Obando told the child not to tell the child’s mother and that Obando would marry the child one day. The child also stated, according to court papers, that she was afraid to say no because Obando is “a big guy.”
When police spoke with Obando, according to the affidavit, he denied any wrongdoing, but did admit that perhaps one day when he was under the influence of cancer medication that he may have mistakenly kissed an inappropriate place on the child.
His bond was set at $25,250, and a no contact order was issued.
