Lebanon — A Lebanon man received a suspended sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty to the sexual battery of a teenager.
Randal Wise, 31, Lebanon, was sentenced to three years, suspended, and three years supervised probation for a Class D felony of sexual battery. His case was in Boone County Superior Court II.
Wise, a former reserve deputy and emergency medical technician, was arrested on Feb. 20 by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department on charges of sexual battery, child seduction and battery. Through a plea agreement, Wise pleaded to the sexual battery charge and the Boone County Prosecutors office agreed not to pursue the remaining two charges.
While molestation laws protect younger victims, the charge of child seduction is used when a person in an authority position engages in sexual misconduct with a person who is 16 to 18.
The youth’s parents told police on Feb. 16 their son had been molested by Wise, whom they described as “a family friend.”
Wise was arrested after he confessed to performing oral sex on the teen who was spending the night at Wise’s house after the two returned from a youth rally. Wise at first denied the incident, but confessed after being told he could be given a lie detector test immediately, BCSD Det. Capt. Mike Beard said in the probable cause affidavit.
The parents were concerned for their son’s safety because Wise “does work for several police departments in the county,” and they believed him to be a Boone County reserve deputy, according to police reports. In fact, Wise had been a reserve deputy, but voluntarily left the reserve program in April, the BCSD reported.
A polygraph test done on Feb. 20 by BCSD Deputy Keith Bruner supported Wise’s contention that there were no other victims.
Wise was profiled by The Lebanon Reporter last summer, for his work with a “praise band” at a local church.
Local News
Wise gets 3 years suspended
- Local News
-
-
Ferrell steps down as LHS girls coach
Hours before the sectional semifinal, Lebanon Tigers girls basketball coach Dave Ferrell voluntarily stepped down as coach for the rest of the season.
-
Future of Memory Hall unsure
Historic Memory Hall could go up for Sheriff’s Sale as early as April 1, but Indianapolis developers Flaherty and Collins are working on plans to purchase the property before then.
-
GOP voters have choices in three races
Republican voters must choose from seven persons who are seeking the party’s nomination for three seats on the Boone County Council, while one Democrat will oppose those nominees in the November general election.
-
Indianapolis man dies in three-car interstate crash
A vehicle driving in the slow lane of Interstate 65 with a flat tire caused an accident that claimed the life of a 73-year-old Indianapolis man Friday morning.
-
Group considers balance between growth and farmland preservation
Wanted or not, development is coming to Boone County, and now is the time for the county’s residents to determine where and how that growth will occur.
-
Alleged meth dealer arrested in Lebanon
Diners at a Lebanon fast-food restaurant received a start when a suspected drug dealer was arrested at gunpoint in the parking lot.
-
Measles outbreak may include Boone
Two Boone County residents appear to have measles, while two Hamilton County residents — including at least one who visited the Super Bowl Village in Indianapolis on a day it was attended by about 200,000 people — have been confirmed as having the disease.
-
Skillman brings tour to county
Elected officials in Boone County are being proactive in “trying to address issues they know are coming down the road,” Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said after meeting representatives of nine local governments.
-
County council field expands to 6
An incumbent at-large member of the Boone County Council will seek election to the board, while a sixth candidate has joined the field for the Republican Party’s nomination for the three at-large seats.
-
Stocking Up
The store is still hiring. “We are very excited to come to town,” said General Manager Jon Keller.
- More Local News Headlines
-







