Washington County - Tuesday, May 14, 2024: Indiana State Police detectives arrested a Hardinsburg man on Tuesday for Child Molestation and other related charges following a four-day investigation.
The investigation began on May 10, 2024, when an employee from a Harrison County school contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) to report possible sexual child abuse to one of their students. A DCS Family Case Manager contacted Detective Travis Baker, who worked alongside DCS personnel. The investigation included a sexual assault forensic examination at a local hospital and a forensic interview conducted at a local child advocacy center. Detective Baker also obtained a search warrant for a Hardinsburg, Indiana residence as part of the investigation. ISP detectives and crime scene investigators served the warrant on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
As a result of the investigation and search, Detective Baker believed illegal sexual contact occurred between the child and 31-year-old Michael Allen Richardson of Hardinsburg, Indiana. Detective Baker arrested Michael Allen Richardson at his residence following the search. Officers then transported Richardson to the Washington County Jail in Salem without incident. Michael Richardson is charged with the following:
- Child Molesting - Level 1 Felony.
- Child Molesting - Level 4 Felony.
- Incest – Level 4 Felony.
- Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – Level 5 Felony.