An adult charge has been brought against a 15-year-old who is accused of committing rape against a 7-year-old in southern Indiana.
Landon Doty, who resides in North Vernon, is faced with allegations of sexually abusing and raping a youngster who is non-verbal and has autism, as stated in the records filed in court. Over the course of several weeks, the incident took place on a school bus that was travelling through Jennings County. Doty is accused of the following:
- There are two counts of rape.
- Attempted rape on two separate occasions
- molestation of children
- Attempts to sexually abuse a child
- There are two counts of sexual assault.
- Attempts to commit sexual assault on two separate count
- The incarceration of criminals
- Impoliteness in public
Reports indicate that video footage from a school bus captured some of the incidents. According to the records filed in the court, a school bus monitor observed Doty pulling the seven-year-old off his lap on April 17th. The bus monitor suggested that the footage be reviewed by the authorities.
The documents indicate that the activity occurred on multiple occasions over the course of several weeks. The crimes are judged to be so terrible that Doty is beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system, according to a long-time officer of the court who is referenced in the probable cause affidavit. The officer continued to describe Doty as “a predator” who was aware that what he was doing was unlawful.
According to the relatives of the seven-year-old boy, he sustained injuries that will be with him forever. According to the reports, the attorneys for the family have filed a civil claim in which they argue that Jennings County School Corporation behaved with gross carelessness, violated the child’s civil rights, and caused permanent harm to the youngster.
This terrible tragedy of a nightmare should have never taken place. It seems incomprehensible that the bus driver and the second bus monitor assistant would have failed to observe anything. According to a statement made by attorney Laura Swafford of Wagner Rese. “Just like every other family in the neighborhood, the boy’s family had the optimistic belief that the school would safeguard their young and defenseless son.
“The family entrusted the school with the responsibility of protecting their son by keeping an eye on behavior on the bus. The educational system has unequivocally failed to live up to its responsibilities and has violated this trust.
This is the statement that was issued by the school district:
“We cannot go into any detail about this situation because we are cooperating with an active police investigation and additionally are involved in this litigation.”
The scenario has been described as frightening by a number of parents in the district.
A woman named Angel Elliott, whose children attend the school, expressed her concern by saying, “It is frightening to know that my children are going to school here, and I do not feel safe putting them on the school bus.”
On a bond of $250,000, Doty is currently being detained in custody at the Jennings County Jail. It is anticipated that he will appear in court once more on August 21.
