Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of child abuse that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you suspect a child is being abused, find out how to report it in your state here. To connect with a counselor, you can call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4253.
JENNINGS COUNTY, Ind. A 15-year-old who has been accused of raping a 7-year-old has officially been criminally charged as an adult.
Per Indiana’s public court reporting system, Landon Doty was formally charged as an adult on June 12. A court filing from June 9 indicates the decision to waive Doty into adult court was made earlier this week.
The June 9 filing reports that Doty sexually assaulted and raped a non-verbal 7-year-old with autism on a Jennings County school bus over the course of several weeks. School bus video captured several of the alleged instances of assault, and that footage was reviewed by police.
The filing from June 9 alleges Doty is “beyond rehabilitation under the juvenile justice system; and it is in the best interest of the safety and welfare of the community that the child stand trial as an adult.”
During one hearing, according to the court filing, an officer said Doty’s conduct “is the worst he has seen during his 39-year career as a juvenile probation officer.” The same officer also described Doty as “a predator based on his repetitive conduct against a helpless victim.”
Per court documents, the juvenile probation officer reported that “the alleged delinquent’s criminal conduct appears to be calculated, indicating he knew what he was doing was wrong. It appears in the video 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.”
Court records indicate Jennings County officials believe Doty is of normal intelligence and a good student. Officials also documented that he had previously had some behavioral issues at school. Doty’s guardian reported that he does not have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) through Jennings County Schools.
An affidavit for probable cause indicates Doty’s alleged activity was first detected on April 17. At the time, a school bus monitor observed Doty pushing the 7-year-old off his lap.
The monitor told the bus driver to pull over, separated the students and then reported to Jennings County Schools that video of the incident needs to be reviewed.
Police then reviewed video of the incident that was presented by Jennings County Schools. Officers with the North Vernon Police Department went on to review several videos during its investigation of Doty’s alleged activity.
Doty was detained by police during their investigation. He was pulled from class and escorted to a patrol car in handcuffs. According to court documents, Doty said “I’m basically screwed” once the NVPD officer that detained him got in the car with him.
According to Indiana’s public court reporting system, Doty now faces 12 charges, including four counts of rape, two counts of child molesting, four counts of sexual battery, one count of criminal confinement where the victim is under four years of age and one count of public indecency.
Rape and child molesting the most serious of the charges Doty faces are both Level 3 Felonies. The maximum penalty for a Level 3 Felony in Indiana is a 16-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.
Previous reporting indicates the 7-year-old’s family filed a tort claim against the Jennings County School Corporation during NVPD’s investigation. The family alleges that the district was negligent in its handling of the situation and violated the 7-year-old’s civil rights, which caused him permanent injuries.
A statement from the 7-year-old’s family attorney is available here. A statement from the Jennings County School Corporation is available here.
