***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2015

ELKHART JURY CONVICTS MACIAS OF 11 FELONIES AFTER SEXUALLY ABUSING 3 CHILDREN

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

On Thursday, April 30, 2015 following a four day trial, a jury called in Elkhart Superior Court 3 took approximately three hours to convict Jose Jesus Macias, 40, of seven counts of Child Molesting, a Class A felony; two counts of Child Molesting, a Class C felony, one count of Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors, a Class D felony; and one count of Vicarious Sexual Gratification, a Class B felony.

The convictions resulted after jurors heard compelling testimony from three children, whom Macias victimized for months between 2008 and 2011. The victims, who were in their teens when they testified at trial, were all twelve years of age or younger when the crimes occurred. Two of the victims were living in the same home as Macias during the period of time that he was molesting them, and the third victim frequented the home on a near daily basis. All three victims testified that they delayed disclosing the molestation since Macias made them promise not to tell, and out of fear of Macias, who is trained in the martial art of jujitsu.

Jurors also heard how the children struggled for months or years, as they felt a burden of shame caused by the acts Macias perpetrated on them or forced them perpetrate on each other. Jurors heard from the victim's mothers, a responding officer from the Goshen City Police Department, a forensic interviewer from Child and Family Advocacy Center, and a pediatric sexual assault nurse from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, who all participated in the investigation that led to Macias convictions. Their collective testimony assisted the jury in understanding the trauma of the acts that Macias perpetrated against the children, and the painful process of disclosure that child molest victims must go through.

Macias, in an attempt to convince the jury of his innocence, took that stand and told the jurors that all three children were liars; however the jurors quickly set aside Macias’ testimony, and found justice for his victims.

As a result of Macias’ convictions, Judge Cataldo scheduled a sentencing hearing for the 28th day of May, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. in the Elkhart County Security Center. Macias faces up to three hundred eighty-nine years in prison for the eleven felony convictions. Macias is being held without bond at the Elkhart County Security Complex pending sentencing. The case was tried by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Peter Britton and Katelan Doyle.

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