***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2015

74 YEAR OLD CONVICTED OF FONDLING HIS 12 YEAR OLD STEP-GRANDDAUGHTER

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

On Tuesday, July 14, 2015 an Elkhart County Jury in Elkhart Superior Court 3 took less than three hours to convict Michael Reum, 74 of Osceola, of Child Molesting, a Class C felony.

The conviction resulted after jurors heard compelling testimony from Reum’s victim, whom he victimized in late 2010 or early 2011. The victim, who was in her late teens when she testified, was only twelve years old when the molestation took place. Jurors heard from the victim’s mother; grandmother, who was married to Reum when the crime occurred; the investigating officer from the Elkhart County Sherriff’s Department; and a forensic interviewer from Child and Family Advocacy Center, whom all participated in the investigation that led to Reum’s conviction. Their collective testimony assisted the jury in understanding the acts that Reum perpetrated against his victim, and provided context to the victim’s testimony.

Reum, took that stand and told the jurors that the victim was mistaken, and her testimony should not be believed. The jurors discounted Reum’s testimony, finding him guilty.

As a result of Reum’s conviction, a sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 6, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in the Elkhart County Security Center. Reum is being held without bond at the Elkhart County Security Complex pending sentencing. This case was handled by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Peter Britton.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”