GREENFIELD — A girl told police a Shelbyville man has been sexually abusing her for years — and on at least one occasion, another child saw it happen, reports state.
Keith Wade, 40, 407 Eberhart Drive, Shelbyville, is being held in the Hancock County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond after prosecutors filed three felony counts of child molest against him, accusing him of harming a young girl.
The child told police Wade abused her repeatedly for years, including several instances that occurred while Wade was living in Greenfield between 2012 and 2014, records state.
The girl reported Wade abused her while he was living in Jennings and Shelby counties as well; investigations into his actions in those counties are pending, according to court records.
The abuse ranged from inappropriate touching to intercourse and other sex acts, the girl told police, according to court documents.
The girl told police she never confided in anyone what Wade had done to her because Wade “told her not to tell anyone or she would get in trouble,” court documents state.
But another child saw Wade abusing the girl on at least one occasion, court documents state.
That child was interviewed by police and said she saw Wade touch the victim inappropriately, court documents state. The child said, on another occasion, she saw the victim in Wade’s bedroom without any clothes on, court documents state.
Wade was arrested over the weekend and appeared in Hancock Circuit Court Monday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.
Wade faces two Class A felony counts of child molesting and one Class C felony count of child molesting.
Class A felony counts carry a penalty range of 20 to 50 years in prison. Class C felony counts carry a penalty range of two to eight years.
Greenfield attorney Phillip Sheward was appointed to represented Wade in the case.
Wade remained in the Hancock County Jail at press time.