Published: July 11, 2007 04:50 pm         

Parke County official accused of sex crime

County councilman allegedly had oral sex with 15-year-old boy

INDIANAPOLIS — A Parke County councilman allegedly caught with a 15-year-old in an Indianapolis motel room Sunday has been charged with allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and possession of a controlled substance.

Roger Fisher, 53, of Rockville allegedly performed oral sex and fondled the Indianapolis male he met on a telephone chat line.

Fisher has been on the council for at least two years, according to Parke County Council chairman Dale Gerrish.

Before that, Fisher served as county auditor and clerk, each for eight years.

According to allegations in a probable-cause affidavit filed with the charges:

• Fisher met with the boy in Indianapolis and took him to a room at a Motel 6 in Speedway around 9 p.m. Sunday.

• A woman who saw the two approaching the room called police because she thought the boy looked scared.

• Speedway Police arrived at the room to question Fisher about the juvenile. He first told police he was alone but then admitted the boy was there.

• The boy was found hiding in the bathtub with no clothing on below his waist, covering himself with a pair of pants.

• Fisher told police he thought the boy was 18 and he had intended on having sexual intercourse with him, according to the documents. However, the boy told police that he told Fisher he was 15 during their second phone conversation.

• Over the course of the past nine to 12 months, Fisher said he spoke with the boy on the phone about six times. This was their first time meeting in person.

• During a search, Fisher was found to be in possession of hydrocodone, a pain reliever, for which he said he had a prescription, but that couldn’t be verified when he was arrested.

• Police also found a used condom with fluid inside, which Fisher said belonged to a friend that Fisher had sex with in the room before he met with the boy.

• Some clear liquid in a brown glass bottle was found in Fisher’s pocket, according to the documents. Fisher told police he inhaled the liquid from the bottle to get high.

Fisher was charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, one as a class-B felony and one as a class-C felony; and possession of a narcotic drug, a class-D felony.

His initial hearing is at 9 a.m. today in Marion County’s Superior Criminal Court 2.

Gerrish said Fisher’s been an active council member and good for the community. He was surprised to hear about the arrest, he said.

“He’s been very active and knowledgeable of politics being a county auditor and clerk, understands the law and workings,” Gerrish said about Fisher’s role on the council.

Parke County attorney John Asbury said Fisher’s future on the County Council is dependent upon the case’s outcome.

“A conviction, I suppose, would disqualify him [from the council], but until there is some resolution of the case, I don’t know that there would be anything done necessarily,” Asbury said. “The fact that he’s charged doesn’t kick anything into effect as far as I know. Again, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.”

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.