JOHNSON COUNTY — John Cassin, the 76-year-old former owner of the Mrs. Curl ice cream store in Greenwood, has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges.
According to Johnson County Prosecutor Joe Villanueva, Cassin avoided trial by pleading guilty to two felony counts of possession of child pornography.
The prosecutor's office asked for prison time for Cassin, but didn't get it. Instead, Johnson County Circuit Court Judge Andy Roesener sentenced Cassin to a three year term with one year served on home detention and two additional years of active probation. Cassin will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Cassin was arrested last April after investigators seized a home computer at his home in Whiteland. According to the probable cause affidavit, Cassin used his home computer to look up images of underage children engaging in "explicit" sex acts.
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"While we argued for prison time for this offense, there is no question that the defendant's lack of criminal history and age were strong mitigating circumstances in the court's ultimate decision," said Villanueva. "We are pleased that Cassin did receive some form of an executed sentence and will spend the rest of his life on the sex offender registry."
As for the ice cream shop, Cassin was removed as an owner last May.
