EDINBURGH — An Edinburgh Police Officer faces multiple felony charges after being accused of molesting a child who is under the age of 14, Johnson County officials said.
Michael David Nunez, 33, was arrested Tuesday and faces two counts of child molesting, a Level 1 felony. Child molestation is normally a Level 3 felony, but the charges were enhanced because Nunez is over the age of 21, according to a joint news release from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and Johnson County Prosecutor's Office.
Nunez is being held on $160,000 cash-only bond and faces up to 100 years in prison. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be added in the future.
According to court documents, the victim told investigators they were first sexually abused by Nunez in 2014 and the abuse continued about once a month over the next six years.
“The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the citizens of Johnson County and impartially enforcing all laws, regardless of the individuals involved," Burgess said. "Law enforcement officers should be held to a higher standard and any allegations against them will always be fully investigated and handled the same as any other case.”
The investigation into Nunez began Dec. 29 when Edinburgh police chief Doyne Little received a call from another Edinburgh police officer, who said he was contacted by the victim's mother, according to a news release. Little contacted the Johnson County Sheriff's Office to investigate the allegations.
Sheriff's office investigators attempted to speak with Nunez over the phone, but he declined an interview request, the release said. Nunez was off-duty and working a part-time security job while wearing his Edinburgh Police Department uniform and driving his personal vehicle.
Members of the Edinburgh Police Department and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office began searching for Nunez. He was found before 3 a.m. Dec. 30 sitting in his vehicle in the area of River Road and Triangle Road in Camp Atterbury, according to the sheriff's office.
"Due to Nunez’s actions and comments during this interaction he was transported by the Sheriff’s Office to a nearby hospital under an immediate detention order," the news release said.
The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office filed charges later in the day and an arrest warrant was issued. Nunez was arrested Tuesday after he was released from the hospital.
“I take the safety and protection of the children in our community very seriously," Johnson County Prosecutor Joe Villanueva said. "My office looks forward to presenting our evidence in court and acting as the voice for this child in the criminal justice system.”
Anyone with questions about the case should contact Edinburgh town attorney Dustin Huddleston at 317-736-5121.
