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Hope Man Arrested For Allegedly Molesting 7-Year-Old Girl

Last updated on Thursday, February 28, 2013

(HOPE) - A Bartholomew County man wanted on several child molestation charges was arrested after police searched for him for nearly five months.

Ebone Monet of TheIndyChannel.com staff reports that Dennis Hatton, 60, of Hope, was taken into custody at the Bartholomew County Jail after being accused of three felony counts of child molesting.

Investigators said the charges involved a 7-year-old girl who was molested between February and August of last year.

When investigators asked Hatton about the allegations, he told police it was the 7-year-old who made the initial sexual advances, the affidavit stated.

Police said when the went to Hatton's home to serve the warrant for his arrest in October, he was gone. The search for Hatton extended into southern Indiana, northern Kentucky, Montana and Missouri.

Police said they think Hatton was able to stay off their radar by living in an RV.

"If a person was to know the back parts of this little neighborhood here, I would say he could probably hide pretty easy," said Hope resident Josh Reed.

Police finally found Hatton by convincing him to turn himself in.

Tentative court dates set Tuesday for Hatton include a change of plea hearing on June 17 and a trial date of July 2.

If convicted on all three counts, he could be ordered to serve up to 36 years in prison, as well as pay combined fines of up to $30,000.

Hatton bonded out of jail.

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