A Knightstown teacher’s aide is facing criminal charges after investigators say he sent a flurry of inappropriate social media messages to students, some as young as 11. The aide, identified in court records as 39-year-old Anderson resident Elisha Moscrip, has been charged with two counts of attempting to commit contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which the documents list as misdemeanors. Concerned parents alerted school officials late last year and told investigators they turned over more than 80 screenshots of the alleged conversations.
What the documents show
Court records obtained by Fox59 detail a series of messages that included invitations for a child to go to the movies alone with Moscrip, along with references to "stealing" and "kidnapping." The documents say he told an 11-year-old that the child was "beautiful" and that they made "him happy." According to the records, a 14-year-old student received similar messages, and at least one child ultimately blocked Moscrip’s account. One passage quoted in the filings reads, "i hope it okay, im sure its not normal lol but oh well is where im at lol."
Legal context
Under Indiana law, contributing to the delinquency of a minor is generally charged as a Class A misdemeanor, although the offense can be elevated if the underlying conduct would amount to a felony. The statute and related sentencing rules are outlined in state code, including the provisions summarized at Justia and the misdemeanor sentencing range detailed at Justia.
Court Date And Defendant's Response
According to court paperwork, Moscrip posted a $750 cash bond on April 10 and is scheduled for a pretrial conference on June 2 in Rush County. In a March interview with investigators, he admitted sending the messages but denied that he meant anything criminal by them, describing the exchanges as "sarcastic," the documents state, per Fox59.
What’s Next
The June 2 pretrial hearing is the next major step on the Rush County court calendar, where attorneys can hash out evidence issues, address any motions and potentially discuss how the case might be resolved. As the case moves through the system, additional court documents and filings are expected to be added to the public record.
