Man who used phone to record sexual abuse of Muncie preschooler draws 30-year sentence
MUNCIE, Ind. — A man who sexually abused a Muncie preschooler has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Kevin Lamar Davis, 29 — listed in court documents at an Indianapolis address — had pleaded guilty to attempted child molesting, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison, and domestic battery, a Level 6 felony with a maximum 30-month sentence.
When Davis was arrested last December, Delaware County sheriff's deputies said he was being confronted by relatives of his 4-year-old victim, who had just become aware of the allegations against him.
According to an affidavit, Davis had used a cellphone to record his efforts to sexually abuse the child.
At the Indianapolis man's sentencing hearing last week in Delaware Circuit Court 1, the victim's grandfather acknowledged that had the opportunity presented itself, he night have chosen to take justice into his own hands.
More: Daleville man draws 30-year sentence for molesting convictions
Deputy Prosecutor Steve Sneed noted the devastating impact Davis' actions had on his young victim and her family. During the sentencing hearing, one relative of the victim loudly expressed her outrage as she left the courtroom.
The guilty pleas came after Davis had signed a plea agreement that saw four other charges — child molesting, child exploitation, performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor and possession of materials showing juveniles involved in sexual activities — dismissed.
Judge Judi Calhoun imposed a 33-year sentence — 30 years in prison, followed by three years on probation.
At the sentencing hearing, Davis offered an apology to the victim and her family.
"This wasn't supposed to happen at all," he said.
The domestic battery conviction stemmed from allegations Davis had punched the victim's mother up to a dozen times when she confronted him after finding the videos of his crimes.
Davis was convicted of armed robbery in Marion County in 2013.
In other court news:
Sentencing: A Jay County man who collected images of children in sexual situations was sentenced this week to four months in jail.
Thomas J. Clutter, 77, had pleaded guilty to a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison.
Jay Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison on Monday imposed a 34-month sentence with 30 months suspended.
Clutter was arrested in March 2023 after he took his laptop computer to a local business for an upgrade. A Jay County sheriff's deputy who had a second job at the business saw sexual images of children on the computer.
During an interview, Clutter told investigators he had collected such images "for a kick" for the past 20 years.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Man who sexually abused Muncie preschooler draws 30-year sentence
