Nine arrested in crackdown on unregistered sex offenders

October 19, 2022

Richard Bunch. Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

Jennings County deputies have made 9 arrests in an investigation into unregistered sexual offenders in the county.

According to reports from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies began making random home checks of known sex and violent offenders in the county. Those offenders are required to report information to authorities including their address, phone number, vehicles they own or operate and to have valid ID or driver’s license with their current address.

During the course of the investigation, deputies also found evidence of child solicitation and sending material harmful to minors.

Among those arrested were 59-year-old Richard Bunch of Columbus, on charges of Child Solicitation, Possession of Methamphetamine, Disseminating Harmful Material to Minors and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Cody Powel. Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

35-year-old Cody Powel of Attica is being accused of Child Solicitation, Disseminating Harmful Material to Minors and Resisting Law Enforcement by Fleeing.

43-year-old Tilden Slone of Seymour was arrested on charges of Child Solicitation and Disseminating Harmful Material to Minors.

30-year-old Brandon Strickland of North Vernon and 29-year-old Yeison Calderon of Westfield were both arrested on charges of Child Solicitation.

Five others were arrested on charges of failing to register as a sexual or violent offender. Those were:

Matthew Sowers, 49, North Vernon.
Michael Brown, 51, North Vernon.
Richard Cain, 62, North Vernon.
Jonathan Moore, 34, North Vernon.
Joseph Wright, 54, North Vernon.