An Indiana couple is facing a slate of serious felonies after investigators say they gave drugs to a friend's daughter, then repeatedly sexually abused and trafficked her across central Indiana. According to court records and local reporting, some of the alleged abuse was filmed and took place both in hotels and at the caregiver's home. Both suspects are now in custody on multiple counts tied to child exploitation and trafficking.
Law enforcement says the case began with a Department of Child Services report on May 8. The victim later told investigators the abuse occurred in March at the Quality Inn & Suites in Anderson, a Quality Inn in Brownsburg and at a home in Ingalls, Indiana. As the investigation unfolded, authorities arrested 45-year-old Jessica Ann Lindzy and 45-year-old Carlos Ponce, according to WXIN.
Court documents reviewed by local outlets state that the suspects supplied the girl with ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and alcohol before sexually abusing her, and that at least some of the incidents were recorded. The Herald Bulletin reported that the victim told police she was coerced into sexual acts and that investigators later found multiple images and videos on a suspect's devices, according to The Herald Bulletin.
Charges and detention
Both Lindzy and Ponce were booked on multiple felony counts, including human and sexual trafficking of a minor, child exploitation and possession of child pornography. Authorities say Ponce has prior convictions that list him as a habitual offender, according to WKRC.
Jail records show Lindzy was booked, then posted bond and was released June 29, while Ponce remained held on a 50,000 dollar 10 percent bond. Those custody details appear in Madison County jail records.
How investigators say the abuse unfolded
Probable cause paperwork reviewed by news outlets indicates that Ponce and Lindzy recorded the alleged abuse and that they manipulated the victim into group sexual encounters over a recurring period. The documents and subsequent interviews reported that Ponce later admitted to filming, and that the victim said the suspects gave her drugs, then assaulted her, as reported by WXIN.
Federal law and what it means
Under federal law, any commercial sexual act involving someone under 18 is treated as sex trafficking. Prosecutors do not have to prove force, fraud or coercion in those cases, since a child cannot legally consent to commercial sex. The statute that defines the offense and its penalties is 18 U.S.C. § 1591, which lays out mandatory penalties and restitution when the victim is a minor and explains the conduct that can trigger federal charges, according to Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.
The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue state or federal trafficking charges. Court records are expected to provide more detail as the case moves through the system. Local reporting first highlighted the arrests and the public records behind the allegations, per WKRC.
