Terre Haute man facing child molesting and exploitation charges

Hudson/ Vigo Co. Jail

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

A local man was arrested on child molestation charges Monday following a Terre Haute Police Department investigation.

Carl "Joe" Hudson, 62, was booked into the Vigo County Jail around 2:30 p.m. He is charged with felony child molesting and child exploitation. His bond is set at $100,000 , no 10 percent allowed.

According to the probable cause affidavit, prepared by Detective Donald Toney, of the Terre Haute Police Department, the suspect is the godfather of the victims and the alleged incidents occurred while the preteen sisters stayed overnight at his house during the summer.

The girls' mother informed investigators that Hudson is involved with youth at St. Patrick's Church on Poplar Street. In fact, she stated he is known to teach "Good Touch, Bad Touch" and sex abuse classes there.  She reportedly became concerned about blood in the girl's underwear when she returned home and began asking questions. When the girls realized she wasn't angry with them, they informed her of the alleged activity.

Both girls reported incidents of inappropriate touching while with Hudson, while one of them described more detailed information and alleged that Hudson penetrated her vagina with his fingers. She was able to describe tattoos and scars on the suspect's body. She alleged, that while swimming the next day, Hudson kissed her on the lips in the pool, according to the documents.

The sisters alleged Hudson had created an ongoing weight loss challenge with the "pudgy" girls.

He allegedly researched what a typical 10 -year-old should weigh and set the goal for them to achieve the weight. An incentive was to have them undress and weigh for before and after photos. He also allegedly fully undressed in front of them to take part, entirely naked. One of the girls reportedly got fully undressed as asked. The other left only her panties on to weigh in.

Det. Toney stated that investigation revealed the suspect's  phone had been factory rest just after learning of the allegations. A search warrant was executed to Google and a photo hiding app had been used to store explicit photos, as the two victims had alleged when describing the incidents that reportedly occurred in Hudson's bedroom and in the garage in July.

Hudson and his wife deny the allegations, saying that the mother of the girls is angry that they had quit being friends with them around the time of the allegations due to drama the mother was always having, according to the documents.
Hudson i s scheduled to appear in Vigo Co. Div. 6 Court Feb. 14.