A Clinton County jury found 77-year-old Richard Q. Henson of Frankfort guilty on nine felony counts tied to the sexual abuse of two 13-year-old victims, but the man convicted this week is nowhere to be found. Henson skipped his own trial after failing to appear at a bond revocation hearing last Wednesday, and he has not been seen since. Frankfort police say an active arrest warrant is now out for him.
The Clinton County Circuit Court proceeded with the trial in Henson's absence, and jurors returned guilty verdicts on August 25, convicting him of two counts of child molesting by fondling or touching a child under 14, four counts of sexual misconduct with a minor by a person at least 21 years old, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor involving a child under 18, and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor involving a child under 16. According to the Frankfort Police Department, Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker said Henson “failed to present himself for trial while out on bond,” and the department is now asking the public for any information on his whereabouts.
The case traces back to forensic interviews conducted with the two 13-year-old victims on January 3 and January 14, 2025. As reported by Clinton County Daily News, the girls told detectives that Henson invited them to his home, supplied them with alcohol and marijuana, and made unwanted sexual advances. One victim reported drinking enough to black out and waking up in Henson's bed without her pants, according to the same investigative account.
Admissions Before the Arrest
Detectives searched Henson's residence in the 1000 block of Rowe Street in Frankfort on February 5, 2025, and arrested him the same day, the outlet's report states. During an interrogation before that arrest, Henson reportedly admitted to detectives that he touched and kissed the minor victims, saying he did so to “feel some sort of excitement,” per the same account.
The Clinton County Prosecutor's Office charged Henson on February 7, 2025, with 12 counts in total — four counts of Level 4 felony child molesting, four counts of Level 5 felony sexual misconduct, four counts of Level 6 felony contributing to delinquency, and a misdemeanor marijuana charge, the report notes. The jury ultimately convicted him on nine of those counts after he absconded while on bond.
How a Trial Proceeds Without the Defendant
Indiana courts are permitted to hold a criminal trial in absentia when the state shows a defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived the right to be present by failing to appear despite knowing the trial date, under the standard set by Indiana Supreme Court case law in Jackson v. State, according to FindLaw. That principle is what allowed the Clinton County Circuit Court to move forward with jurors reaching a verdict even after Henson vanished.
Shoemaker thanked the detectives and the Clinton County Prosecutor's Office for their work on the case, the police department said in its statement. But with Henson still at large, the investigation effectively remains open even after the guilty verdicts were handed down.
What Henson Faces if Caught
The sentencing exposure is steep. Under Indiana Code § 35-50-2-5.5, each Level 4 felony child molesting conviction carries a prison term of 2 to 12 years, with an advisory sentence of 6 years and fines of up to $10,000 per count, according to Gibson Law Office. Level 5 felony sexual misconduct convictions carry 1 to 6 years each with a 3-year advisory term, while Level 6 felony contributing to delinquency convictions carry 6 months to 2.5 years each with a 1-year advisory term, per the same source.
Beyond prison time, Henson would face mandatory registration on the Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry under Indiana Code § 11-8-8, which imposes strict residency restrictions within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, and youth centers, according to Justia Law. Offenders convicted of serious sex crimes against minors under 12, or those designated repeat sex offenders, face lifetime registration under Indiana Code § 11-8-8-19, according to the Allen County Sheriff's Department.
A Small County Watching a Big Case
Frankfort is the county seat of Clinton County, a predominantly rural community of roughly 33,000 residents where major felony cases like this one are handled through the Clinton County Circuit Court, according to the Renner Law Office. For now, the courtroom chapter of the case has closed with convictions on the books, but the manhunt for Henson is very much still underway, and Frankfort police are urging anyone with information on his location to come forward.
