HANCOCK COUNTY — A man facing multiple felony charges of child molesting made his initial appearance Thursday, Oct. 29, in Hancock County Circuit Court.
Kirk D. Lonas, 56, Greenfield, was brought from Missouri to the county jail late Wednesday, Oct. 28, two weeks after a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Lonas has been charged with a Level 1 felony count of child molesting; and two Level 4 counts of fondling a child younger than 14 stemming from incidents involving separate victims earlier this year.
The most serious charge carries a prison sentence of up to 40 years.
Lonas made his appearance via video in front of Judge Scott Sirk, who issued a no-contact order for victims. A bond was not set until Friday, Oct. 30, after a delay to discuss whether Lonas might be a flight risk. Detective Nichole Gilbert of the Greenfield Police Department testified GPD had difficulty finding Lonas after his arrest was ordered earlier this month. Detectives tracked Lonas to Missouri through his cellphone; police there arrested him Oct. 15, days after the warrant was issued.
Sirk set a bond of $50,000 cash or $250,000 surety and ordered that Lonas be confined to home detention if he posts bond.
A probable cause affidavit filed in the case by Gilbert states a report to an Indiana Department of Child Services hotline started the investigation last month.
Two victims said Lonas fondled them over and under their clothing on different occasions this year.
The abuse was reported to have occurred in two residences in Greenfield.
Sirk set a pretrial conference for late December and a jury trial for March 2021.
