Published: March 11, 2009 10:57 pm         

Wisconsin man knew sexual contact was a crime, police say

20-year-old arrested outside eighth-grader’s school Tuesday

TERRE HAUTE — A 20-year-old Wisconsin man infatuated with a 14-year-old Terre Haute girl allegedly admitted to police that he knew that his sexual contact with the eighth-grader was a crime.

Alex Edwards, 20, admitted he had sexual relations with the girl last August. He told reporters before his court hearing Tuesday he believed the relationship “was the same as like a 26-year-old and a 20-year-old.”

In the court hearing, Judge Michael Eldred found probable cause for Edwards’ arrest for sexual misconduct with a minor, a class-C felony.

By Indiana law, sex by someone 18 or older with a person 14 or 15 constitutes sexual misconduct. The law considers a 14- or 15-year-old incapable of giving “consent” even though they may participate willingly in the act, such as police say happened with Edwards’ alleged victim.

Edwards, of Racine, Wis., was arrested Tuesday after waiting for the girl outside Otter Creek Middle School. He met her last April, they had corresponded by cell phone and computer and had visited each other three times.

Recently, the girl had told him not to contact her anymore, said Sgt. Frank Shahadey of the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department.

Edwards nonetheless carried a diamond ring and love letter for the girl among other items as he waited for her Tuesday by sitting under a tree outside the school.

Both the accused and victim gave statements to police disclosing they had sex once last August, Shahadey said. Edwards said he knew the act was a crime, Shahadey said.

Edwards, sitting at a witness table during his probable-cause hearing on Wednesday, appeared at times despondent and other times confused. He is unemployed and had planned to go to boot camp for the U.S. Navy in May.

Judge Eldred asked him if he had ever received any psychiatric help, to which he replied no.

The judge set bail at $75,000, no 10 percent. Edwards can be detained until Monday while the prosecutor’s office decides what charges, if any, to file. When informed by the judge that he will return to court on Monday, Edwards said dejectedly, “I was hoping to be out on my birthday.” He will turn 21 on Sunday.



John D. Wright can be reached at (812) 231-4255 or john.wright@tribstar.com.