Man Sentenced for Raping and Inappropriately Touching Girl

Source: Judge gavel, scales of justice and law books in court

WHITESTOWN, Ind. — Prosecutors say a man is facing 123 years in prison for a series of crimes that were committed between 2020 and 2022.  

54-year-old John Peterson especially had been raping a girl since she was 11, and the girl says that he had been inappropriately touching her since she was four. She also says Peterson recorded these incidents on his phone. 

As of February, Peterson is now facing the following charges:  

– Child molesting 

– Child exploitation  

– Possession of child porn  

– Neglect of a dependent  

“Our office extends undying gratitude, respect, and courage exhibited by the victim in this matter. She was very brave, and it empowered our team to relentlessly pursue justice and ensure the defendant was held accountable, guaranteeing that he will never be able to hurt anyone again,” says Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood.  

Eastwood says prosecutors are grateful that Peterson will spend the rest of his life in prison, and he says Peterson was called a “sexually violent predator.”