A 15-year-old Indiana boy was charged as an adult last week for raping a 7-year-old disabled boy in April.
Jennings Circuit Magistrate Judge Christopher Doran has declared that suspect Landon Doty is a “predator” who cannot be rehabilitated within the juvenile justice system. Doran decided to transfer the case from juvenile court, highlighting that a school bus camera captured Doty’s offenses over several weeks, as reported by The Republic.
The victim in this case is described as autistic and nonverbal. Despite Doty having known behavioral challenges, WXIN notes that he lacks an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) within Jennings County Schools.
CrimeOnline generally refrains from naming minors involved in legal cases, whether they are victims or accused offenders. Nonetheless, since Doty is set to be prosecuted as an adult, he is no longer under the juvenile system’s safeguards.
On April 17, a school bus monitor allegedly spotted Doty pushing the 7-year-old off his lap. The monitor told the bus driver to pull over and separated the students before contacting the school district about reviewing the bus surveillance footage.
A review of the bus’ surveillance footage reportedly uncovered additional incidents involving Doty and the victim.
Doty was eventually pulled out of class and detained — and he allegedly stated, “I’m basically screwed” when a North Vernon police officer got in the vehicle with him, according to WXIN.
“The alleged delinquent’s criminal conduct appears to be calculated, indicating that he knew what he was doing was wrong,” Doran wrote last week, per The Republic. “It appears in the videos that he would stop his criminal conduct anytime he thought someone may observe him, then continue his criminal conduct when he felt safe to continue without detection.”
Doty is charged with rape when compelled by force, rape against a mentally disabled individual, child molestation, sexual battery, criminal confinement of an individual younger than 14, and public indecency. He remains jailed without bond.
[Feature Photo: North Vernon police]
