A Spencer County jury on Thursday convicted 73-year-old Newburgh resident Roger Ford of child seduction and child molestation after a three-day trial in Rockport, closing out a case that has shaken families involved in local youth softball. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before returning the guilty verdict. Sentencing is scheduled to begin April 24, 2026, and parents in the youth sports community are already circling that date on their calendars.
Verdict and What Comes Next
According to the Spencer County Prosecutor’s Office, the jury found Ford guilty of Child Seduction, a Level 3 felony, and Child Molesting, a Level 4 felony, following the three-day trial in Rockport, Country Herald reports. Court records show Ford was taken into custody immediately after the verdict and will return to Spencer County Circuit Court for sentencing in April.
Prosecutor Megan Bennet praised both the young victim and the community that rallied around her, saying, “The immense bravery of this young child ended Ford’s predatory behavior from continuing in his position of trust,” according to WFIE. The station also reports Ford was arrested in late 2024 and that sentencing is scheduled for April 24 at 9 a.m. in Spencer County Circuit Court.
How Investigators Say It Unfolded
Court testimony laid out a disturbing account of the incident, which was described as taking place on July 11, 2024, during a private pitching lesson at a rural location outside the Santa Claus area, Country Herald reports. Investigators told the court they were alerted after receiving information that Ford allegedly instructed the child to remove her footwear, placed edible chocolate on the child’s feet, and then ate it.
Detectives later seized Ford’s cellphone under a search warrant and said it contained material and searches they linked to preteen imagery. The investigation was led by Indiana State Police Lt. Brock Werne, with assistance from Detective Casey Beckman, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Potential Prison Time and Long-Term Rules
Under Indiana law, a Level 3 felony carries a sentencing range of three to 16 years, while a Level 4 felony carries a range of two to 12 years, as outlined in state sentencing statutes. Convictions for offenses such as child molesting and related sex crimes also trigger registration obligations and other post-conviction requirements under Indiana’s sex and violent offender laws. Those rules can include long-term or lifetime registration in certain circumstances. For the precise statutory language on sentencing ranges and registration requirements, readers are directed to the Indiana statutes.
The case has intensified local scrutiny of background checks and supervision in youth sports, particularly given Ford’s role as a coach and private-lesson instructor for a traveling softball organization. Families and community members are expected to return to Rockport for the April 24 sentencing hearing, and local outlets are set to closely follow whatever happens in court that day.
