FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A Fort Wayne man is avoiding jail time for multiple child sexual abuse charges.
Steven Wells, 49, originally faced 13 counts related to child sexual abuse. All but two counts of sex with a minor were dismissed.
As a part of a plea deal, Steven R. Wells, 49, admitted to multiple counts of sexual misconduct with a minor in exchange for child molesting charges being dropped.
In a written statement obtained by the Department of Child Service in 2016, the older daughter revealed the sexual encounters to a counselor at the Youth Opportunity Center in Muncie – “I was going to hide it for my whole life and say nothing because I don’t want to see my dad go to prison. I told today because I am at my breaking point.”
Investigators also determined that Wells had multiple sexual encounters with the younger adopted daughter, who one forensic nurse estimated had the mental capacity near a 7-year-old. There were multiple documented instances of abuse dating back to 2012 at their Fort Wayne home which were revealed in statements from Wells’ daughters.
Wells was sentenced to two consecutive three-year sentences which were suspended, followed by four years of probation. He is ordered to have no future contact with the victims.
