Sheriff: 2 men arrested on child molestation charges

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office recently reported the arrests of two men on charges of crimes against children in Clinton County.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office reported an arrest of a Lafayette man following an investigation that authorities said uncovered felonies related to child exploitation and seduction.

On Friday, Jan. 20, detective lieutenant Dan Roudebush reportedly arrested Robert Michael Patten, 49.

According to Sheriff Rich Kelly, two people came forward with accusations after they had become adults, a few years after the incidents were said to have occurred. Kelly stated that Patten was not a Clinton County resident, but due to the crimes originally occurring in the county, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office sought to arrest Patten for the alleged crimes.

“He was not a resident here in the county, but with the victims still living here in the county and the crimes happening here, we went and picked him up in Tippecanoe County,” said Kelly.

The Sheriff’s Office released preliminary charges for Patten that include one count of level 3 felony child molestation, two counts of level 4 felony child molestation by fondling, one count of level 3 felony child seduction, one count of level 2 felony child seduction and two counts of level 6 felony sexual battery.

A few days later, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for a Lebanon man said to have been involved in a separate incident.

On Jan. 24, Zachary Allen Roe, 40, of Lebanon was arrested with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in Chicago on a charge of level 4 felony child molestation by fondling.

Kelly commented that while Roe remains as a Lebanon resident, the crimes listed on the warrant are believed to have been perpetrated in Clinton County, which allowed for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office to accept Roe into the local jail.

“In all cases that are prosecuted through Clinton County, the crimes occurred here in Clinton County,” said Kelly. “Our people will assist outside agencies with investigations, but typically, they would be housed in the county where the crimes occurred.”

The Sheriff’s Office stated that all subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Kelly released a statement thanking the U.S. Marshal’s team for its help in apprehending Roe as well as expressing his appreciation for the work of the law enforcement team in Clinton County for developing a case and continuing the investigation.

“We greatly appreciate the United States Marshals in providing us the assistance of apprehending this individual,” said Kelly. “I want to take a moment and recognize the hard work and dedication of our great investigators who are tasked with these difficult cases involving crimes against children.”

Kelly continued to state that the arrest was made possible through the collaboration with the federal and local agencies, and he continued to comment that he looks forward to working with other agencies in the future.

“Regardless of where they’re at, we have a good relationship with the federal agencies–especially the U.S. Marshals–so we count on them to help us outside of the area, and it just happened that they were able to catch up with him and get him picked up up there,” said Kelly.

No further information was released regarding the cases as of Tuesday at noon.