A Knox man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday morning on two counts of child molesting as a Class A felony.
Jerry Leonard, 37, was sentenced on one count of child molesting to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with 10 years of the sentence suspended. On the second count of child molesting, Leonard was sentenced to 30 years in the DOC with 10 years of the sentence suspended. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time. After he serves his time in the DOC, he will serve his suspended sentence on probation.
Leonard was ordered to register as a sex offender and pay all court costs. He is to have no contact of any sort with the victim or her mother while he serves his sentence.
Leonard was also found guilty on two counts of performing a sexual act in front of a child as a Class D Felony, but Prosecutor Nicholas Bourff moved for those charges to be dismissed, citing statute of limitations. The court granted the motion.
Leonard’s attorney, Timothy Lemon, told Judge Hall that Leonard will be appealing his sentence with the Indiana Court of Appeals. The court did find Leonard indigent and an attorney will be appointed to conduct his appeal. A motion will need to be filed within 30 days to give notice of the appeal.
