Prosecutors in Delaware County have charged an emergency medical technician after they say he had sex with a 14-year-old girl in the back of an ambulance during a medical transport earlier this year. Court records identify the EMT as Ronald D. Elliott Jr., and show he was formally charged Wednesday with child solicitation, child seduction, vicarious sexual gratification, and sexual misconduct with a minor. The alleged assault happened in February during a transfer between Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie and a Bloomington hospital, according to investigators.
According to a probable-cause affidavit cited by WTHR, the teenager told investigators that Elliott touched her genitals and had sexual intercourse with her inside the ambulance. The affidavit also alleges Elliott gave the girl his nicotine vape, showed her photos and videos of his genitals and of sexual activity, including what appeared to be a rape scene, and used her access to Instagram to contact another underage girl. Court records list Elliott as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service and give a last-known address in Dunreith in Henry County.
Charges and what they carry
Prosecutors filed the case under Indiana’s sex-crimes statutes, which classify these offenses as felonies with penalties that vary based on the victim’s age and the conduct alleged. Indiana Code §35-42-4-7, as compiled on Justia, outlines child-seduction offenses and how penalties increase when sexual intercourse with a minor is alleged. Under that statute, sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old is treated as a Level 4 felony. A Level 4 felony can bring a multi-year prison sentence and may also trigger sex-offender registration requirements and other post-conviction conditions.
How authorities and employers respond
Allegations like these against EMS workers can spark both criminal probes and professional fallout. The U.S. Department of Justice has, in previous cases, prosecuted EMTs accused of sexually exploiting minors and obtained federal prison sentences, underscoring how seriously authorities treat breaches of patient safety. In Indiana, oversight of emergency medical services and related licensing runs through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s EMS unit, which handles EMT licensing and can refer alleged misconduct to prosecutors or employers; see the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for more on that process.
Next steps in the case
Elliott was charged Wednesday in Delaware County, and, as WTHR reported, online jail records did not show him as booked as of Thursday morning. The case will now move through the Delaware County court system, where a preliminary hearing or arraignment could be scheduled next depending on how prosecutors file subsequent paperwork. Future developments will be reflected in court dockets and other public records as the case proceeds.
