A Caruthers, Calif., man was booked into the Porter County Jail on Thursday, July 2, charged with one count of battery-victim under the age of 14, a Class D felony; and two counts of simple battery, a Class B felony the Porter County Sheriff’s Police said.

According to police, John Lloyd Newberry, 31, was arrested on those charges at 7:34 p.m. by Chesterton Police.

In the probable cause affidavit filed by Officer Fernando Dominguez, late Thursday afternoon he interviewed a girl under the age of 14 who reported that, while in the private swimming pool area at Westchester Village on the Greens, Newberry “forcibly grabbed” her--“in a rude, insolent, or angry manner,” per Indiana Code--and caused two scratches to her lower abdomen.

Two other persons reported that Newberry had similarly touched them, one between her legs and the other on her chest, Dominguez stated in his affidavit.

A Class D felony is punishable by a term of six months to three years; a Class B misdemeanor, by a term of up to six months.

Posted 7/8/2009