Brazil man charged with molesting Vigo Co. girl several years ago

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

A Brazil man is facing a child molestation charge after the victim spoke out about the abuse a decade later.

James L. Burk, 34, was booked into the Vigo County Jail yesterday just before noon. He is charged with felony child molesting a child under 14.

According to the probable cause affidavit, filed by Det. Sgt. John Newman, of the Vigo County Sheriff's Office, the alleged molestation occurred when the child was around 5 or 6-years-old. The investigation began during subsequent counseling for depression she allegedly suffered from since the encounters.

The victim alleges the sexual abuse took place several times, beginning when her mother was in the hospital to have her appendix removed. She "stated that James had vaginal sex with her multiple times during the six months he lived with them," according to the documents. She alleged inappropriate touching and sexual activity would often occur while watching cartoons together or while she was sleeping.

The young child reportedly had been entrusted in her mother's boyfriend's care at the time.The mother had been attending classes at Indiana State University and then worked outside of the home in the evenings. She dated Burk for about a year before he moved in with them into an apartment located in Seelyville for around a six-month period of time, until they eventually broke up.

According to the affidavit, the victim vividly remembered the suspect "was caucasion, scrawny and had black tattoos on his arms."

Burk remains held in the jail on $75,000 bond, no 10 percent allowed.