West Terre Haute man arrested on child molesting charges

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

A West Terre Haute man is in jail , accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl.

David E. Goshen, 60, was booked into the Vigo County Jail Friday around noon. He is charged with two counts of child molesting.

Goshen is the father of the girl's mother's longtime live-in boyfriend and has been in the victim's life several years. He is a frequent visitor to the family's home and would stop by regularly to do his laundry or use the shower.

According to the probable cause affidavit, filed by Det. Josh Cary, of the Vigo County Sheriff's Office, two alleged inappropriate touching incidents occurred, beginning in February, when the suspect came into the child's bedroom for a hug.

"David put his hand under her shirt and squeezed her chest.Victim stated that David also put his hands down her pants and grabbed her buttocks," according to the court documents, noting skin-to-skin contact occurred. 

The second alleged incident also happened in the victim's bedroom a couple weeks later. During this reported incident, the suspect again allegedly grabbed the above mentioned parts of the child's body, but also then allegedly moved his hand to her vaginal area outside of her underwear.

After both of the alleged incidents, Goshen reportedly made a "shhh" sound and put his index finger to his lips, suggesting it be kept secret. Both times, her younger brother reportedly was also in the room, but preoccupied with electronic devices, wearing headphones. He would not later recall noticing the incidents.

The girl, fearful, told a friend about the alleged touching. The friend told her mother and that mother told the victim's mother, whom reported it to authorities. She reportedly was alarmed, as the child's allegations matched similar groping incidents she had personally experienced with the suspect in the past, according to the documents, while he was under the influence of alcohol. 

Goshen denied the allegations during questioning. He reportedly said he was unsure why the allegations were made against him, before he was taken into custody.

Goshen is held in the jail on $50,000 bond, no 10 percent allowed. He is scheduled to appear in Div. 6 Superior Court  June 3.