Standing in his gray suit, Troy Turner turned to his victim in the front row of the Allen County Superior Courtroom on Wednesday and apologized.A 50-year-old Fort Wayne man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday after he admitted to sexually abusing a young girl he knew.
James M. Muench, of the 3100 block of Robert Street, pleaded guilty to three of 12 charges against him. The original charges ranged from Class A felony child molesting to Class C felony charges of sexual misconduct with a minor, as well as a Class D felony charge of possession of child pornography.
He pleaded guilty to Class C felony child molesting, Class B felony sexual misconduct with a minor and the child pornography charge. The additional nine charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Muench was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison, with eight years suspended and five years to be served on probation.
He must also pay $1,180 in restitution.
According to court documents, the girl told police the abuse occurred over a few years and began with his giving her a packet of pictures showing teenage girls having sex with adult men. He also was accused of paying her to engage in sexual acts, and threatened that if she disclosed the abuse, she would be sent to a mental hospital for children, according to court documents.
During Monday’s hearing in Allen Superior Court, neither Muench nor members of the victim’s family addressed the court.
