The manager of a group home in Valparaiso for the developmentally disabled has been accused of having sex with a young man with Down Syndrome, the Porter County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said.

Michael P. Ritchie, 57, of 931 Hampton Court in Valparaiso, has been charged with criminal deviate conduct, a Class B felony punishable by a term of six to 20 years; and sexual battery, a Class D felony punishable by a term of six months to three years.

Ritchie was booked into the Porter County Jail on those charges on Wednesday.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Det. Sgt. Steven Rose of the Porter County Sheriff’s Police, on July 10 the young man’s grandmother reported her belief that Ritchie had had sexual contact with her grandson, aged 20, while the young man had been staying at the group home, located at 3145 Heavilin Road. The grandmother advised that she had become “increasingly uncomfortable” with Ritchie, that Ritchie “would often take the boys out of the home on trips, such as vacations and Special Olympics, and does things without her permission,” and that when questioned her grandson made comments “that indicated he was sexually assaulted” by Ritchie.

In a subsequent interview on July 16, Rose stated in his affidavit, the young man identified parts of the body using a diagram, said that he used to play a game of “Santa Claus” while sitting in Ritchie’s lap with his trousers removed, and indicated that penetrating sexual contact had occurred.

On July 20, Rose stated, he interviewed Ritchie, who denied touching the young man “in a sexual way” and “denied ever playing ‘Santa Claus’ with any of the children.” Ritchie did say that he has worked for the company InPact for 20 years and has served as manager of the group home, which currently supervises five males aged 15 to 20.

Two days later, however, Rose learned of a website maintained by Ritchie consisting of “thousands of pictures of only small boys,” none of whom is pictured naked. Rose also learned “of numerous reports accusing Michael Ritchie of molesting young boys,” one made to the Valparaiso Police Department and two to the Indiana State Police. “All three reports involve allegations that Michael Ritchie had inappropriate sexual contact with young boys who suffered from learning disabilities or who were receiving special education services,” Rose stated.

In a second interview, on Aug. 27, Ritchie acknowledged the allegations made against him, Rose stated. In addition to those three, Ritchie mentioned one made against him while he was a teacher in Lake Village, Ind., and leading to his resignation, “wherein he was accused of groping a young boy while allowing him to sit on his lap.” Ritchie mentioned a similar allegation made against him while he was working in the Lake Central School system. “The incident occurred at the end of the school year,” Rose stated; “he never returned to the school.”

“During our interview,” Rose stated, “Ritchie explained that he has feelings for boys but he has never acted upon them sexually. He admitted having sexual fantasies about young boys his entire life and that he has always been employed in a capacity involving working with children.”

“Ritchie claimed that he can control himself and should continue to work with children,” Rose also stated. “He advised that his romantic fantasies of children make him work harder to take care of them. He further advised that he feels he can fight the temptations that he has for the boys.”

A component of both of the charges filed against Ritchie—criminal deviate conduct and sexual battery—is his alleged victim’s incapacity, due to mental disability or deficiency, to consent to sexual contact.

Posted 10/8/2009