A former Chesterton resident and convicted sex offender is being held without bond at the Porter County Jail pending a probation revocation hearing.

Gary Lee Nimtz, 44, of 3508 Evans Ave., Lot 4, in Valparaiso, was residing in Chesterton when, in March 2006, he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual misconduct with a minor and a second count of child molesting, both Class C felonies punishable by a term of two to eight years.

Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford sentenced Nimtz to eight years in the Department of Corrections (DOC) on the first count, suspend two; and to eight years in the DOC on the second count, suspend all eight. Nimtz—who had served 296 days in jail prior to sentencing, time applied to his sentence—was released from the DOC on his eligibility date, May 27, with a 10-year probation period.

On June 2, however, Nimtz was observed sitting on a bench outside the Porter County Courthouse in the company of a young boy, 9 or 10 years old, in violation of the terms of his probation, Probation Officer Debbie Cincoski told the Chesterton Tribune today. “He didn’t remove himself until he was observed by courthouse security and he failed to report the contact,” she said.

In a subsequent interview with her, Cincoski said, Nimtz explained the contact with the boy in this way: “I thought he should move. I was there first.”

On June 26 Cincoski filed a petition seeking the revocation of Nimtz’s probation, in which in addition to Nimtz’s reported contact with the boy she alleged several other violations of the terms of his probation: that on June 17 he consumed alcohol; that he had prohibited contact with another convicted sex offender; that he moved from one residence to another in his neighborhood, without seeking Cincoski’s permission or notifying her; and that he failed to comply with the regulations of Project Pro, a sex offender treatment program.

The probation revocation hearing has been scheduled for later this summer.

As it happens, Nimtz spent several days in jail after being released from the DOC on May 27, because he had no place to stay which fulfilled the residency requirements for convicted sex offenders. After securing a suitable residence on Evans Ave., Cincoski said, Nimtz was released from PCJ on June 2.

Posted 7/1/2008