A New Albany man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl at his home has pleaded guilty to child molestation and rape charges in Floyd County, Indiana, under a deal that calls for a 46-year prison sentence and a lifetime designation as a sexually violent predator. Jonathan Rodewig Jr. is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on September 10, 2026, when Judge Justin Brown will determine exactly how long he spends behind bars.
Court records accuse Rodewig of luring one victim to his home and sexually assaulting her despite her repeated attempts to refuse, according to WDRB. He is accused of targeting minors in separate incidents over several weeks, and the case first surfaced in August 2025 when he was found driving around a girl who had been reported missing in southern Indiana. A separate Clark County case remains unresolved.
The Charlestown Police Department says officers first made contact with Rodewig when the missing juvenile arrived at the police station inside a vehicle he was operating, which led to his arrest on rape and child molestation charges. An investigation then led to multiple search warrants, uncovering digital evidence of sexually explicit communications and videos involving a minor victim. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the CyberTipline received 1.4 million reports concerning online enticement in 2025, including more than 800 reports in which an offender traveled to meet a child.
A Second, Separate Case Still Pending in Clark County
Rodewig faces similar charges in Clark County tied to another juvenile victim, and he currently has an outstanding arrest warrant there. The Clark County case involves similar charges.
Those Clark County charges are entirely separate from the Floyd County plea agreement and remain unresolved.
Rodewig's bond was set at $1.5 million. Rodewig appeared in court in New Albany, Indiana, as investigators warned that additional victims could exist.
What a Sexually Violent Predator Label Means Under Indiana Law
What a Sexually Violent Predator Label Means Under Indiana Law Once his sentence is finalized, Rodewig can be classified as a sexually violent predator. Under Indiana Code § 35-38-1-7.5, a person 18 or older convicted of Level 1 through Level 4 child molesting or rape can receive this classification, defined as someone with a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes them likely to reoffend, according to Rigney Law LLC.
That designation carries consequences that extend well beyond his prison term. Under Indiana law, sexually violent predators must maintain lifetime registration on the state sex offender registry and remain subject to restrictions after release, including in-person registration every nine days and strict restrictions on locations frequented by children.
Indiana's registry framework traces back to 1994, when the state adopted what became known as Zachary's Law following the sexual assault and murder of 10-year-old Zachary Snider in Cloverdale, Indiana. That law established the public tracking standards later codified under state statute, according to the Allen County Sheriff's Department.
Judge Justin Brown will preside over the September 10 sentencing. A Level 1 felony conviction may carry a sentencing range of 20 to 50 years, giving context to how the 46-year figure in Rodewig's plea agreement compares to standard statutory guidelines for the state's most serious non-murder offenses.
