RICHMOND, Ind. (WOWO) — A Richmond man has been arrested in Dayton, Ohio, following a nearly year-long investigation into allegations of child molestation, according to the Richmond Police Department.
Chris Moore was taken into custody Sunday in Dayton on an outstanding warrant, Richmond police said in a social media post.
Police said the investigation had been underway for nearly a year before Moore’s arrest.
Moore is facing three preliminary felony charges in Indiana: one count of child molesting, a Level 1 felony; one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 4 felony; and one count of child seduction, a Level 5 felony.
The allegations have not been adjudicated in court, and the charges are preliminary. A criminal charge is not a finding of guilt, and Moore is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Richmond police said multiple agencies and organizations assisted investigators in the case, including the U.S. Marshals Service, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Dayton Police Department, Indiana Department of Child Services, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and JACY House Child Advocacy Center.
The agencies worked together to locate and take Moore into custody in Dayton, according to police.
“We appreciate the dedication and collaboration of everyone involved in bringing this investigation to an arrest,” the Richmond Police Department said.
The arrest follows an investigation that began nearly a year ago, but police have not publicly released additional details about the allegations or identified the circumstances that led investigators to seek Moore’s arrest.
The three preliminary charges are serious felony offenses under Indiana law. Child molesting is classified as a Level 1 felony in the circumstances alleged in the case, while sexual misconduct with a minor is listed as a Level 4 felony and child seduction as a Level 5 felony.
Because the investigation involves allegations against a minor, authorities have not released identifying information about the alleged victim according to WIXN.
Moore was arrested outside Indiana in Dayton, making the cooperation between local, state and federal agencies a key part of the investigation’s conclusion.
The Richmond Police Department’s announcement did not immediately provide information about Moore’s initial court appearance, bond or whether he had been returned to Indiana following his arrest.
The case remains an active criminal matter, and additional court proceedings are expected as prosecutors move forward with the preliminary charges.
