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Last updated on Friday, September 6, 2013
(TERRE HAUTE) - A former local resident, who was convicted in Greene County in 1992 for conspiracy to commit murder, is back in trouble with law authorities.
Nick Schneider of the Greene County Daily World reports that 51-year-old Charles "Chuck" French, who is now living in Terre Haute, was formally charged in Vigo Superior Court, Division last Friday of eight felony counts involving inappropriate conduct with minor girls dating back to 2008 and continuing until Feb. 2013.
French faces three counts of child molesting; four counts of sexual misconduct with a minor; and one count of child seduction - all class C felonies.
French made an initial court appearance on Friday and Judge John T. Roach set bond at $75,000 with no 10 percent allowed.
French informed the court that he will hire a private attorney.
A jury trial is set for Feb. 10, 2014 at 1 p.m.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Terre Haute City Police Detective Travis Chesshir, French is alleged to have engaged in unlawful touching and grabbing of three separate female victims, who were ages 10-17 at the time of the alleged incidents.
All of the alleged incidents occurred at French's residence on 17th Street in Terre Haute.
Detective Chesshir stated in the probable cause affidavit that victims told him similar behavior had occurred with at least a half dozen other victims.
French is also alleged to have offered two of the victims marijuana on several occasions and is alleged to have filmed two of the victims in a shower where they bathed by placing a video camera in a nearby laundry basket.
In Greene County, French was convicted July 17, 1992 in connection with the murder of Linton resident Russell Bolin.
He was sentenced in that case to 20 years, 11 months and 30 days for the class A felony and was released from prison in Aug. 2001.
Also, convicted in the Bolin death was the late Randy Cliver, who died while serving time in prison, and Bolin's wife, Debbie, who sentenced to 20 years for aiding in voluntary manslaughter - a class C felony.
Cliver was convicted of murder and received a 60 year sentence and another 35 years for conspiracy to commit murder.
The trio was convicted in connection planning the homicide and carrying it out by bludgeoning Bolin to death with a ball bat at his residence.
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