West Terre Haute man facing child molesting charges

Seabolt/ Vigo Co. Jail

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

A West Terre Haute man was arrested this week on molestation charges.

Owen W. Seabolt, 18, was booked into the Vigo County Jail Wednesday around 6 p.m. He is charged with two counts of Level 3 felony child molesting.

According to the probable cause affidavit, filed by Detective Paul Hartzler, of the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began after an older child came forward with allegations after her brother alleged that something had occurred with the suspect in a bedroom recently. 

The boy reportedly told his grandmother about the alleged incident while staying overnight at her home. He didn't elaborate. She then informed the victim’s mother, who then made a police report.
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While deputies were on scene at the residence, the mother’s daughter, 9, stated she also had been inappropriately touched by the suspect.

​During further investigation , the girl said the suspect had touched her inappropriately on a daily basis since she was around 7. She alleges Seabolt also had her touch him and that he even went so far as to record the activity on his tablet on two occasions. He also allegedly watched pornography with her on his electronic devices.

The childrens' mother called police to her home just after the suspect had reportedly stabbed himself with  a knife while talking about the allegations.

Seabolt became suicidal after confessing to the victim’s mother about the molestation, according to the court documents. He reportedly told her that he had the boy touch him, stating that “it was an accident.” He was transported to a local hospital with a superficial stab wound to the neck a short time later.

A subsequent search warrant was executed at the residence and several items were recovered as evidence before Seabolt was taken into custody.

Seabolt remains held in the jail on $75,000 bond, no 10 percent allowed. His next scheduled court appearance is set for July 26 in Vigo Superior Court 1 
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