Published: November 08, 2008 11:25 pm      

Child molester gets 90 years

Joshua Upton pleaded guilty to 5 counts.

PERU — A Kokomo man arrested last December on 10 felony counts of child molest was sentenced Friday to 90 years in prison in Miami Superior Court.

Miami County deputies arrested Joshua M. Upton, 26, on Dec. 12, accusing him of molesting two young boys he was baby-sitting, according to the sheriff department.

Police also allege Upton has been downloading child pornography on a computer inside a trailer in Maple Lawn Mobile Home Park on U.S. 31, north of Kokomo.

On Friday, Judge Daniel Banina sentenced Upton to 90 years in prison after Upton previously pleaded guilty to two Class A felony and three Class B felony child molest charges.

All five counts involved acts with children over a four-year period, according to a written statement from Miami Superior Court.

Miami County Prosecutor Eric Huneryager handled the case for the state and attorney Jeff Price represented Upton in the case.

Upton became a suspect after detectives went to his trailer back in December on a complaint by the mother of the boys, Sgt. Mike Rogers of the Miami County Sheriff Department reported.

Police then interviewed the woman and her two sons, ages 5 and 6, who told police Upton performed acts of sexual deviate conduct on them on at least 10 occasions between May and December.

In an interview with detectives, Upton admitted to the sex acts and was charged with 10 Class A felony counts of child molest.

Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com