A jury convicted former Anderson police officer and school resource officer Joshua Senseney on all counts Wednesday, finding him guilty of three counts of child solicitation and one count of official misconduct tied to his time working inside an Anderson Community School. The verdict closes out a case that began more than two years ago, after a parent came forward with allegations that Senseney had sent inappropriate texts to minors.
A jury found Joshua Senseney guilty on all counts on Oct. 21, 2026, according to fox59.com. He had been facing three preliminary counts of child solicitation, each a Level 5 felony, along with one count of official misconduct, a Level 6 felony, the station reported. As of the verdict, a sentencing date had not yet been scheduled, per the same outlet.
The case traces back to an Indiana State Police investigation that began in June 2024, after a parent alleged Senseney had sent inappropriate texts to minors while working as the school resource officer, according to WTHR. Investigators said Senseney was an Anderson police officer and school resource officer at an Anderson Community School at the time of the alleged incidents, which began in May 2024, the station reported.
Texts, a Phone Number and Cash App Payments
Court documents described how the alleged contact unfolded. Investigators said the former officer gave one victim his phone number to stay in touch over the summer, and WTHR's reporting states that Senseney allegedly gave his personal phone number to one of the victims to “stay in touch” during that time. The former officer also sent inappropriate messages to one of the victims, according to WTHR.
Detectives also found that Senseney had allegedly sent the teens money via Cash App for them to spend on food, fox59.com reported. The case also included one official misconduct charge alongside the three child solicitation counts.
Administrative Leave, Then Retirement Before Trial
Senseney was placed on administrative leave on July 29, 2024, the station's report states, months before he was formally charged. He was arrested in late November 2024, with WTHR reporting that Joshua Senseney, of Anderson, was charged with three counts of child solicitation and official misconduct on Nov. 25, 2024. He turned himself in and was processed at the Madison County Jail, where he posted bond and was released, per the same account.
Rather than face the charges as an active officer, Senseney informed city officials of his decision to retire in January 2025 while the case was still pending, according to a Yahoo News report. That retirement came roughly 21 months before this week's verdict.
Coverage of Senseney's age has varied across outlets: WTHR reported he was 50 at the time of his arrest, while the Herald Bulletin identified him as 52. Hoodline could not independently resolve the discrepancy.
