Published: October 28, 2009 09:58 pm      

Man appears in court on child molesting allegations

Family member comes forward after 30 years

A 59-year-old western Indiana man charged with 11 counts of child molesting in Clark County appeared in court Wednesday for an initial hearing.

Ralph Hughett Sr., of Rosedale, was arrested in Terre Haute on Tuesday. Clark County Superior Court No. 1 Judge Vicki Carmichael set bond at $100,000 cash-only and issued a no-contact order with the victims.

Hughett is accused of molesting two female family members, who are now 12 and 15 years old. The offenses he is charged with reportedly occurred between 2000 and 2004 in Jeffersonville. They say the last incident happened in 2007, according to a probable-cause affidavit.

At least one of the girls also alleges being abused by Hughett in Decatur, Ill. The victims say Hughett would begin by rubbing their backs and then would have intercourse with them.

A third relative, from Shelburn, called detectives after hearing of the allegations to state that Hughett molested her about 30 years ago in Terre Haute. She said the molestation was reported to the local welfare department, but they said there was nothing they could do because it was her word against his.

The woman reportedly told police that she dreaded coming forward to relive what happened, to her but that it was the right thing to do for the juvenile victims.

Family members told police that there had been rumors throughout the family that Hughett had molested children.

Hughett’s case is scheduled to go to trial April 6. No attorney filed an appearance on his behalf.