COLUMBUS, Ind. – Investigators with the Indiana State Police (ISP)-Versailles Post on Friday, April 19, arrested a Bartholomew County man after an eight-month investigation into allegations of child molesting.
The inquiry began in August 2023 when ISP received reports of the allegations. Detectives determined that before August of last year, Jayden K. Hardwick, age 20, allegedly had improper contact with two Bartholomew County juveniles.
After the conclusion of the investigation, the case was given to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. As a result, a warrant was issued for Hardwick for two counts of Child Molesting (Level 3 Felony), and one count of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (Level 5 Felony).
Troopers took Hardwick into custody on Friday afternoon and he was incarcerated in the Bartholomew County Jail pending an initial appearance in court.
Under the law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.