Convicted child molester Larry J. Nester took the stand Friday morning in Howard Superior Court II, with his fate resting in the hands of Judge Stephen Jessup.
Nester, handcuffed and shackled, didn’t apologize for fondling a 5-year-old girl he was baby-sitting. Instead, he said he agreed with the probation department’s recommended 10-year prison sentence for his crime and sat down.
Jessup wasn’t satisfied.
“He was in a position of trust, and he violated it,” Jessup said. “He blamed this on the little girl and said she enticed him.”
Jessup then increased the probation department’s recommendation to 19 years in prison with one-year suspended to be served on probation. Nester also was ordered to register as a sex offender upon his prison released. The maximum for a B felony is 20 years in prison.
Nester pleaded guilty to a Class B felony in the case in May, admitting he fondled the young girl.
“There’s not enough time for what he did to my daughter,” the victim’s father said on the stand. “He was supposed to be a close friend, and I catch him with my daughter.”
Nester was living at the victim’s house on South Main Street when the sexual contact occurred in November 2008.
“I walked in and heard giggling in the bedroom, opened the door and caught him,” the girl’s father told the judge.
“She still remembers,” he continued. “She used to tell her mother about it all the time, and she was in counseling.”
The girl is now in kindergarten and is doing better, he added.
Besides Nester, the victim’s attorney, Brad Hamilton, did not call on any witnesses or introduce any evidence.
Howard County Prosecutor James Fleming said he would like to see a higher sentence than recommended.
After hearing from the lone witness, Fleming got his wish when Jessup handed down the near-maximum punishment.
Kokomo police initially arrested Nester, 46, on two child molest charges, one A felony and one C felony, in connection with allegations he had sexual contact with a child on multiple occasions.
Police said Nester had sexual contact with the 5-year-old girl in November. The victim’s mother told police her husband walked in on Nester committing a sex act on the child. He said he took the children out of the house and immediately sought police help.
“That’s still not enough time,” the victim’s father said afterwards. “My daughter’s gotta live with this for the next 70 or 80 years, or as long as she’s still alive.”
• Mike Fletcher is the Kokomo Tribune crime reporter. He can be reached at (765) 454-8577 or mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com.
Local News
Molester gets 18 years in prison
Larry J. Nester pleaded guilty to fondling girl, 5
- Local News
-
-
Students kick off Black History Month at IU Kokomo
“Hey, black child, be what you can be. Learn what you can learn. Do what you can do. And tomorrow, your nation will be what you want it to be.”
-
Council taking heat for proposal
The Miami County Council on Thursday got to hear from county employees who are disgruntled about proposed budget cuts that would reduce the county general fund by nearly $900,000.
-
County looks at health care options
With the city of Kokomo ending its relationship with Novia Health Care, Howard County officials are now discussing what move they will make.
-
KHS to implement new technology program
Starting next school year, the more than 500 freshmen enrolled at Kokomo High School will receive either a laptop computer or tablet device as part of a new technology program that school officials say will improve learning in the classroom.
-
Measles patient was at NFL event
East Coast fans who left the Super Bowl host city feeling good about Hoosier hospitality may have been exposed to something less welcome: The measles.
-
Outreach provides housing to the down-and-out
Dale Bliss tells the story of a man with no money, no job and two kids.
Without any way to pay for a hotel or rent an apartment, the man was living in a tent with his children at a reservoir near Kokomo. He told them it was a family camping trip.
-
Green tech lab opens in Kokomo
A California green technology company has opened a research and development lab in Kokomo and plans to hire as many as 35 people over the next few years, the business announced this week.
-
Main Street conference coming to Kokomo
Following up on its Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Community of the Year award, Kokomo received another accolade this week.
-
Howard Co. jail reconfiguration a ‘short-term solution’
With the ever-increasing number of female prisoners at the Howard County jail, local officials are looking to implement a short-term solution instead of expanding the existing facility.
-
Delphi retirees continue fight for pensions
A group of then-Delphi Corp. retirees saw a long road ahead of them when they banded in 2009 to keep hold of their full pensions and benefits.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
