NASHVILLE — Former Gregg Township Fire Chief Roger Kemp, 51, is facing a fresh wave of felony child sex crime charges in Brown County after a victim came forward with evidence detailing abuse that occurred over a decade ago.
Kemp was arrested and booked into the Brown County Jail on a $75,000 cash bond. The new charges include:
- Sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class B felony
- Vicarious sexual gratification, a Class C felony
- Child exploitation, a Level 5 felony and Class D felonies
Overcoming the Statute of Limitations
The investigation began after the victim, now a 28-year-old female, approached the Indiana State Police with digital evidence. Palmer disclosed that she first met Kemp in 2012 when she was 14 and he was 37. She alleged that Kemp leveraged his public position to keep her silent, telling her no one would believe her over a prominent local fire chief.
Although the incidents occurred more than ten years ago, Brown County Prosecutor Ted Adams explained that Indiana law contains specific statutory “saving clauses” allowing prosecution beyond the standard five-year felony limit when newly discovered evidence is turned over to law enforcement.
“I don’t care what position they’re in,” Adams stated regarding public officials accused of abuse. “We hold them responsible.”
Multiple Prosecutions and Department Overhaul
The Brown County charges follow an earlier February case in neighboring Bartholomew County, where prosecutors charged Kemp with possession of child sex abuse material. That case arose after USB storage drives containing videos and photos dating back to 2012 were discovered.
Kemp’s trial in Bartholomew County is set for September 8, followed two weeks later by his trial in Brown County.
Following his initial arrest in February, Kemp resigned from the Gregg Township Volunteer Fire Department. Current Fire Chief Rob Stecher confirmed the organization has since undergone a complete restructuring—operating under a new corporate entity, leadership team, and revised vetting procedures.
The case coincides with separate, unrelated felony sex crime charges filed against another former Gregg Township fire official, Charles Heflin, who stands accused of secretly recording individuals in the fire station bathroom and soliciting fire victims. His jury trial is scheduled for October 27 at 8:00 a.m.
