A Cedar Lake man got a 10-year split sentence Friday after admitting he molested two teen girls.
Jonathan Lowery, 41, was sentenced to four years in the Indiana Department of Correction and six years on sex offender probation. He will have to register as a sex offender.
He signed a plea deal filed March 22 pleading guilty to child molesting, a Level 4 felony, and sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 6 felony.
A victim who testified at Friday’s sentencing said she was “raped by a man I once trusted.” It left her with nightmares and unable to feel fully “safe” in relationships, she said.
Deputy Prosecutor C.J. Washington told Judge Gina Jones that Lowery “took responsibility” by signing the plea. She said the plea was designed to get him help, so he would “not do this to anyone else”.
Both Washington and defense lawyer Eric Neff said Lowery’s “substance abuse issues” contributed to the crimes.
“I do believe that’s going to help him,” Neff said of the prison sentence and probation requirements.
Lowery declined to speak in court.
Court records show Lowery admitted fondling and inappropriately touching the first victim on Nov. 8, 2019. He admitted doing the same to the second victim on Nov. 16, 2019.