BEDFORD— Lawrence Superior Court Judge John M. Plummer III sentenced Jeremy Trowbridge, 35, of Bedford, to four years in prison.
Trowbridge pleaded guilty to child molesting, a Level 4 felony, and possession of child pornography, a Level 5 felony, as part of a negotiated plea deal. Upon his release, he will serve five years of supervised probation. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex or violent offender for life and adhere to special probation terms as a sex offender.
Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Scherschel explained that the plea agreement was reached after consultation with the victim’s family to protect the community and spare the victim from having to undergo the trauma of a trial. Scherschel emphasized the heinous nature of the crimes, stating that children rely on adults for protection, and Trowbridge violated this trust by taking advantage of a four-year-old child. The determination to prosecute such offenses reflects the state’s unwavering stance against individuals who harm children in contravention of Indiana laws.
The investigation into Trowbridge commenced on June 1, 2021, following a report of a sexual offense involving a 4-year-old female and Trowbridge. Detectives initiated the inquiry after the child’s mother discovered Trowbridge with her daughter in a compromising situation in a bedroom. Trowbridge claimed he was removing cat hair from the child’s private area. Still, subsequent assessments by healthcare professionals revealed no signs of injury or evidence of cat hair near the child’s private areas.
Upon receiving the information, the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Trowbridge.
Subsequently, on November 20, 2023, Trowbridge faced additional charges related to possession of child pornography following a search conducted at his residence by Indiana’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This search was authorized after law enforcement received multiple cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
