Spencer man faces felonies

Charles "Chip" May, 32, of Spencer, has been accused of several sex crimes with children and is facing multiple felonies.

The felony charges include two counts of child molestation, a count of child solicitation, a count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a count of performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor, a count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, and a count of intimidation. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of distribution of an intimate image.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Detective Riley Nungester was contacted by Indiana State Police Detective Sgt. Chris Fears following a July report made to Owen County Department of Child Services after a juvenile victim disclosed that May allegedly showed the child a video of May engaging in a sexual act.

A friend of the juvenile was also interviewed as part of the probable cause affidavit and claimed that when playing hide and seek, May would make the juvenile touch him. They also said that May began touching them in fall of 2024. They also claimed that May "told her not to tell anyone, or he would have to beat her," according to the probable cause affidavit.

Throughout the investigation, the probable cause affidavit includes interviews with other children with whom May allegedly participated in sexual misconduct with.

According to reporting from The Banner Graphic, in the Spring of 2012, May previously faced "four sex-related charges concerning alleged improper contact with an 11-year-old girl at an Indiana state park."

An initial hearing was held on Oct. 23. May was required to check in with Owen County Probation to be placed on GPS Level 4 monitoring with Pretrial Services.

Prosecutor Ben Kim has issued a reminder that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.