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Last updated on Thursday, September 15, 2016
(BEDFORD) - A 35-year-old Owensburg woman pleaded guilty to one felony count of sexual misconduct in a negotiated plea deal Monday afternoon in Lawrence Superior Court II.
Crystal Caswell was facing 15 felony counts after she allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old boy. The incidents happened in Bedford and Greene County and is facing similar charges there.
Caswell appeared in court with her attorney Sam Shapiro. Judge William Sleva followed the plea agreement and sentenced Caswell to the Department of Corrections for 2 1/2 years with 2 years suspended and she was given credit for one day spent in jail. She will serve the remaining sentence of six months on house arrest. She was also ordered to supervised probation and to attend a sex offender treatment program or sex offender counseling. She was ordered to pay $183.00 in court costs and a $50 bond fee.
She will appear in Greene County for a pretrial conference set for October 3, at 2:30 p.m.
Caswell is accused of having an ongoing sexual relationship with an underage boy from early November 2014 through early February 2015 when the crime was reported. She was arrested March 30 and posted a $5,005 cash bond on March 31.
She was previously arrested in Greene County and booked in to the Greene County Jail on March 5. Caswell is facing a Level 4 felony charge of sexual misconduct with a minor in that county.
Caswell's bond in Greene County was set at $15,000 surety with 10 percent allowed. She was released the same day after posting $1,500 cash.
Because the incidents of alleged sexual misconduct happened in both counties, she was charged in both counties.
According to a probable cause affidavit,Casewell called the teen more than 250 times between November 6-22. In December she purchased a iPhone 5S for the teen and paid the bill. Police took the phone and found numerous calls and text messages between the two.
She also gave the teen an AlienWare Alpha gaming system and her credit card information to purchase online games.
What police say was a friendly relationship progressed to something more.
Detectives found that Caswell paid for motel rooms in Bedford and Bloomington on 16 different occasions. She also rented a storage unit in Bedford that was furnished with an inflatable mattress, air pump and bed covers. Police were provided with surveillance video showing Caswell entering and exiting the facility with the male.
The victim told police that he would sneak out of his parents home while they slept to meet Caswell.
Greene County detectives attempted to speak to Caswell, but they were directed to speak to her attorney.
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