A Merrillville man is accused of allegedly molesting a young boy over a three-year period.
Randell G. Wheeler, 64, is charged with child molesting where the defendant is at least 21, a Level 1 felony; and two counts of child molesting — fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 felony.
Merrillville Police were contacted by police in Worth, Illinois about a credible report of child molestation that occurred in Merrillville, according to the probable cause affidavit. The abuse allegedly occurred between 2016 and 2019 when the child lived in Merrillville.
The boy’s mother contacted police after her son reported he had been touched inappropriately by Wheeler, records state. He asked his mother if he could tell her something “bad.”
The victim, who is currently 14, and his mother met with detectives at the Lake County Sheriff’s Specifical Victims Unit, court records state. The victim told police that the abuse started when he was 6 or 7 and started taking showers. Once he was in the shower Wheeler would come into the bathroom, remove his clothing, get into the shower with the victim and force him to perform a sex act, the affidavit states. This happened 1-2 times a week and continued until he was 9 and went to live with his father.
The boy told police that he recalled someone arguing with Wheeler and telling the child to sit next to her because Wheeler was a “child molester,” records state.