Published: October 17, 2009 08:34 pm      

Grand jury indicts man on charge of seeking child sex

A maintenance man who allegedly tried to entice a 12-year-old boy into engaging in sex acts with him has been indicted.

James Denver Mink, 56, of Mount Vernon, was indicted Thursday by a Madison County grand jury on a single count of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, a Class B felony.

Mink is accused of propositioning the boy more than 20 times for sex acts over the summer while working as a maintenance man at the boy’s apartment complex.

Richmond Police Detective Eric Long began investigating the case after the boy contacted police Aug. 31 to report the alleged propositions.

As part of the investigation, the boy told police that at one point, Mink had allegedly kicked him while they rode in an elevator together.

The kick forced the boy to his knees, at which point Mink allegedly made thrusting motions with his pelvis toward the boy’s head, according to a copy of the complaint against Mink.

Police searched Mink’s vehicle Sept. 2 after receiving permission to search and found a book titled “Sexual Pleasure” and a photograph of “several young boys on a school bus,” the complaint states.

One of Mink’s co-workers told police Mink had taken a sex toy from his vehicle at one point and stated he wanted to hide the device in the boy’s apartment, court records state.

If convicted, Mink could receive 10 to 20 years in prison.



Other indictments

• Jeffrey Marcum, 35, of the 2300 block of Dreyfus Road, Waco, on one count of third-degree burglary and a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief. If convicted, Marcum could receive up to five years in prison for the burglary charge and up to 12 months in jail for the mischief charge.

• Jessica Rose Whitaker, no age or address listed, on one count of theft by unlawful taking. If convicted, Whitaker could receive up to five years in prison. (RPD)

• Larry Dunaway, no age or address listed, on one count of flagrant non-support. If convicted, Dunaway could receive up to five years in prison. (Child Support Office)

• George Allen Crase, no age or address listed, on one count of attempt to obtain a controlled substance by fraud. If convicted, Crase could receive up to five years in prison. (KSP)

• Geoffrey P. Fugate, no age listed, of Orlando, Ky., on one count of driving under the influence, fourth offense, a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license and failure to produce insurance card. If convicted, Fugate could receive up to five years in prison for the DUI charge, up to 12 months in jail for the suspended license charge and a fine for failing to produce an insurance card. (MCSO)

An indictment is a formal statement of charges and does not imply guilt.



Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.