DECATUR COUNTY, IN — A 39-year-old Westport man has pleaded guilty to a Level 4 felony count of Child Molesting and was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years by Decatur Circuit Judge Tim Day.
James P. Carlisle, Jr. (pictured) entered the plea and admitted to being a Habitual Offender as part of a plea agreement.
The sentenced will be divided, with Carlisle ordered to serve 10 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, four years on home detention, and six years of probation.
Carlisle will be required to register as a sex offender for life and has special conditions of probation and home detention he will eventually serve.
He was convicted after his victim made the allegations to family members, who reported the matter to law enforcement and the Department of Child Services.
Carlisle was accused of inappropriately touching an underage female on more than one occasion at his home between January and February 2021, and was arrested in November 2021 following an investigation that took place over several months.
The female juvenile victim was interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), where her account of the allegations was recorded by trained professionals.
“The CAC has proven once again how valuable they are as an institution. In their care, children can give their account of what happened with minimal trauma, while preserving those details for the criminal case. I am so grateful for their partnership here in Decatur County,” said Prosecutor Nate Harter.
As is common in such cases, the victim and her mother were closely consulted about the case and its resolution.
“I thank this brave young lady and her mother for staying in touch with me about this case and for working with me to determine what a just outcome looks like,” Harter added. “I asked the judge to accept this plea agreement because I believe it balances accountability, truth, and justice with the risks of trauma associated with a child having to testify at trial.”
In addition to seven misdemeanor convictions, Carlisle was previously convicted of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (Class D Felony) in 2004, Dealing Marijuana (D Felony) in 2010, Theft (D Felony) in 2013, and Domestic Battery (Level 6 Felony) in 2018.
Harter praised law enforcement personnel for their work on this case. He specifically thanked the lead investigator, Westport Police Chief Joe Talkington.
