LINTON — A convicted sex offender currently serving probation for child molestation is back behind bars in Greene County after local authorities tied him to an online sting operation initiated by a resident.
The Linton Police Department took 46-year-old Dale McNeal into custody on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. He faces a preliminary felony charge of child solicitation.
According to probable cause affidavits filed in Greene County Superior Court, the investigation began when a concerned citizen contacted Linton police detectives. The individual informed authorities that they had been engaged in an extended online text conversation with McNeal while actively posing as a 13-year-old boy.
Upon reviewing the digital evidence, investigators noted that the communications sent from McNeal’s account were highly graphic and explicit. Detectives stated in court documents that the nature of the messages closely aligned with established grooming techniques frequently utilized by online predators to bypass a minor’s boundaries and build illicit trust.
Because McNeal is a registered sex offender, his communication with individuals he believed to be minors represents a direct violation of both state law and his active court-ordered supervision terms.
McNeal was already serving a period of strict probation tied to a prior conviction of child molestation within the state. In Indiana, child solicitation is categorized as a Level 4 or Level 5 felony, depending on prior history and the age of the intended victim, carrying a potential sentence of up to 12 years in prison per count. Due to his active probation status, a separate petition to revoke his probation has been submitted, meaning McNeal could be forced to serve out any remaining suspended time from his original molestation conviction in addition to any new penalties.
Following his initial hearing, a Greene County judge remanded McNeal to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, where he is currently being held without bond pending further formal proceedings.
The court has established an expedited scheduling order for the state’s case against him, officially setting a jury trial date for Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Linton police officials continue to urge parents to regularly monitor their children’s mobile devices and social media applications. Suspicious online activity or suspected grooming behaviors involving local minors can be reported directly to the Linton Police Department at 812-847-4411 or through the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
