A Westville man has pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of child molesting under an agreement with the Porter County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Brian K. Thornton, 42, who had resided at 925 Sundew Drive, had originally been charged with two counts of child molesting, a Class A felony punishable by a term of 20 to 50 years; one count of sexual misconduct with a child, a Class B felony punishable by a term of six to 20 years; and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a term of up to a year.

According to court documents, Thornton has pleaded guilty under the agreement to two counts of Class B felony child molesting, in exchange for which all other charges will be dismissed, with the prosecution and defense to argue the sentence on the first count and any sentence on the second count to be suspended and served on formal probation.

Thornton is facing a sentence of six to 20 years. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 10 before Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa.

Thornton will also be required to register as a sex offender, submit to HIV testing, and undergo sex therapy while incarcerated. On his release, and throughout his formal probation, he will be allowed to have no contact with the victims.

Thornton was charged in connection with two separate incidents, one in August 2008 at a church in Washington Township where he had been doing dry-wall work, after he arranged via text-messaging to meet a girl on a street in Westville, according to the probable cause affidavit filed by Det. Andy Hrivnak of the Porter County Sheriff’s Police. At the church, Thornton subsequently admitted, he provided alcohol to the girl in return for sexual favors.

The second incident, Hrivnak stated, involved a girl whom Thornton molested “at least once a week” over a period of four years.

Posted 5/7/2009