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Last updated on Friday, February 17, 2012
(BLOOMFIELD) - 51-year-old Randell Vandeventer, former Greene County General Hospital Chaplin, was found guilty on three charges of child molesting, all Class A felonies. (GC DAILY WORLD)
The jury returned the verdict shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Thursday after deliberating 8 1/2 hours.
He was acquitted of two counts of class A felony child molesting and one count of attempted child molesting, a class C felony.
The possible sentence ranges between two and eight years on each of the guilty counts. Superior Court Judge Dena Martin set sentencing for 10 a.m. on March 14.
Prior to the jurors returning to the courtroom with their verdict, Judge Martin explained that the jurors had requested to see copies of the transcripts of the victim's interviews with the police. She denied that request.
She also said about 30 minutes before the verdict was reached, the foreman of the jury informed her that he didn't think they were going to reach a verdict on any of the six counts.
Judge Martin said she instructed them that they needed to deliberate longer in an attempt to reach a verdict and avert a hung jury.
A short time later, she was then informed by the jury foreman that "It might not matter. We have come to a conclusion and have reached a decision on all of the counts."
The jurors returned to the courtroom at 7:48 p.m.
Vandeventer showed no emotions when the verdict was being read.
Vandventer was remained into the custody of the Greene County Sheriff's Department. He is scheduled to be returned to the New Castle Correctional Facility on Friday.
Vandeventer was convicted last year of child seduction - a class D felony - in an unrelated case involving a teenager. He was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in that case, but with good time and credit for time served he is expected to complete that sentence with the Indiana Department of Correction on April 29.
This case involves four victims - three males and one female - over a time period 2000 to 2008 when the children attended Tiny Town Daycare Center in Switz City that was owned by Vandeventer and his wife, Lia.
Three male victims allege they were all molested by Vandeventer, while an attempted child molestation count involved allegations made by a female victim during the time period 2000 to 2008.
Today, the youngsters range in age from 14 to 17 years.
In counts 2 and 3, Vandeventer was convicted of molesting a now 17-year-old boy between 2001 and 2008 by "knowingly and intentionally performing fondling or touching to the child with the intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desires" of the child or himself.
This victim told the court that he was molested more than 200 times during his eight-year stay at Tiny Town Daycare Center in Switz City.
In the other guilty count, Vandeventer was convicted of molesting a now 15-year old boy between the years 2005 and 2006 when he attended the daycare owned by the Vandeventers in Switz City.
The defendant was acquitted of a molestation charge that involved alleged sexual deviate conduct with a boy, who attended the daycare between 2002 and 2003. The alleged victim is now 14.
Vandeventer was acquitted of the attempted child molesting charge against a female victim, who is now 16. The allegations spanned the period of 2002 and 2003.
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