DNA tests lead to rape, sexual misconduct charges against Jay County man
PORTLAND, Ind. — When he was questioned by an investigator with the Jay County Sheriff's Department in December, 35-year-old Joshua A. Guntle denied allegations he had sexually assaulted a juvenile.
In late April, Guntle — then jailed on unrelated charges — met again with the investigator, who by then had the results of DNA tests conducted after the girl — who is under the age of 16 — gave birth to a child.
According to an affidavit, those test results showed Guntle was the father of the child. The deputy wrote Guntle "was turning pale and mumbling something" before announcing that he wanted to consult with his attorney.
On Wednesday, Guntle was charged in Jay Circuit Court with six related crimes — three counts each of rape and sexual misconduct with a minor.
The rape charges are Level 3 felonies carrying up to 16 years in prison. The misconduct counts are Level 5 felonies with maximum 12-year sentences.
The affidavit indicated Guntle's accuser at first indicated he had sexually assaulted her a single time in May 2023, but later said there had been multiple attacks over a period of several months.
Guntle — most recently of Salamonia, southeast of Portland — already faced a total of five charges in three Jay Circuit Court cases filed since mid-December. The charges are criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon and two counts each of domestic battery and invasion of privacy.
He is also accused of being a habitual offender, which could lead to an enhanced sentence should the Jay County man be convicted of any of the pending charges.
According to court records, Guntle has been convicted of crimes including dealing in meth, dealing in a narcotic drug , possession of meth, resisting law enforcement and theft.
In other court news:
Exposure: A 73-year-old Portland man has been accused of exposing himself to a 3-year-old girl.
John Clem — also listed in court documents at an address in Ingalls in Madison County — is charged in Jay Superior Court with performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor, a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison.
Court records reflect no prior charges against Clem.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Jay County man charged with sexually assaulting juvenile
