Goshen Man Facing Charges Of Sexual Misconduct, Child Solicitation
Goshen Man Facing Charges Of Sexual Misconduct, Child Solicitation
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Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Goshen Man Facing Charges Of Sexual Misconduct, Child SolicitationA Goshen man was arrested after allegedly having a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl.
Eduardo Lozano Maldonado, 31, Goshen, is charged with sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony; and child solicitation, a Level 5 felony.
He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 12:32 p.m. Thursday on a $15,250 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 23, 2021, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a report of sexual misconduct with a minor on July 31, 2021. The deputy talked to a woman who said she had located electronic communications between a male subject, later identified as Maldonado, and a girl. The communications led the woman to believe the girl snuck out of the house and had a sexual encounter with Maldonado.
On Sept. 27, 2021, the girl was interviewed by Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center. The girl said on July 31, 2021, she had asked on a social media app if anyone wanted to buy her nicotine. The girl said Maldonado responded to the request. The girl said Maldonado knew the girl was 15 and she believed he was 19. In the messages, the girl told Maldonado she was a freshman in high school and Maldonado said he graduated in 2010.
In another message, Maldonado allegedly asked the girl about the day she had at school.
In one message, the girl allegedly said she transmitted an intimate photo to Maldonado.
The girl said, according to the affidavit, on July 31, 2021, Maldonado drove to her house and the girl snuck out of the house and got into Maldonado’s vehicle. He then drove to a gas station, purchasing vape pods for the girl before going to another parking lot. Once at the other parking lot, the girl described Maldonado touching her and taking off her shorts. He then had sex with the girl in the vehicle.
On Oct. 1, 2021, the woman contacted the sheriff’s office saying she had reactivated the girl’s social media app and had been messaging Maldonado as if she was the girl. Maldonado agreed to meet with the girl again after those conversations.
When Maldonado returned to the area of the girl’s residence described in the communications to pick up the girl on Oct. 3, he was contacted by law enforcement.
Maldonado was read his Miranda rights and he agreed to speak with law enforcement. He, according to the affidavit, admitted he met the girl on the social media app, but said he believed she was 18 and could not buy the vape. He admitted to meeting the girl and driving her around until parking in the parking lot. He said he only kissed the girl on the cheek and no other contact happened.
The woman provided copies of the electronic communications with Maldonado from the social media app once the account was reactivated. During those communications, Maldonado allegedly admitted to having sex with the girl and wanted to have further encounters with her when they met up again. He sent an intimate photo to the girl’s account and asked several times that she send him intimate photos, according to the affidavit.
