North Vernon man arrested for child molestation

Confessed to having sexual contact with the 12-year-old

A North Vernon man was arrested after being accused of sexual misconduct with a 12-year-old girl. Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that the incident began Tuesday as they were investigating a reported runaway situation. He says that the parents of the child reported the girl as a runaway and noted that they had witnessed their daughter get into a car belonging to 20-year-old Mark Liles at the North Vernon City Park. The parents reported they followed and tried to confront Liles, however he sped away before they could recover their daughter from him.

On Thursday, Detectives Nick Megel and Ivory Sandefur received information that the child and Liles were at an address in the 1700 block of County Road 675 North in Jennings County. The detectives arrived and were able to find both Liles and the girl. Both were taken into custody and brought to the police department. While in custody, Liles allegedly confessed to having sexual contact with the 12-year-old.

Liles is facing preliminary charges of Child Molesting and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The girl was released to the custody of her parents.