A Dyer man is being held without bond after he was charged with fondling a preteen girl.
John W. Nelson, 45, was charged Monday with Level 4 felony child molesting.
He was arrested Tuesday and is being held without bail.
The victim told a Hanover Schools police officer in February that Nelson had touched her inappropriately about four years earlier. The child said she told her parents the prior day and struggled with not telling anyone.
The affidavit lists a time frame from November 2019 to February 2020 when Nelson lived briefly at the home following a breakup.
The child said in a forensic interview he came up to her room one night, fondled her, then exposed his genitals and rubbed it against her. She froze and closed her eyes while it happened, the affidavit states. He stayed for another minute, then went downstairs, she told investigators.
The child presumed Nelson was drunk. It was the only incident, she said.
His next court appearance is July 11.
mcolias@post-trib.com
