By SYDNEY KENT
Donell Dixon, Marion, was charged with sexual misconduct with a minor in Wells County in March 2023.
He received the same charge in Howard County in July 2022 and Madison County in April 2023.
According to a probable cause affidavit, three separate victims, all under the age of 16, reported instances of sexual misconduct with Dixon in their respective cities — Bluffton, Kokomo, and Summitville — all having communicated through Snapchat. In each case, Dixon drove to the victim’s location.
In the Wells County case, Dixon was sentenced to five years in prison with two years suspended for one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 5 felony. The victim’s story was corroborated by a friend who was present when the conduct took place. When questioned by the Department of Child Services, accompanied by detectives with the Bluffton Police Department, Dixon initially denied his involvement despite being confronted with potential video evidence of his vehicle in the county.
In the Madison County Case, Dixon was sentenced to one year on home detention for three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, all Level 5 felonies. The victim’s parents also reported that Dixon gave her an sexually transmitted disease from their encounter.
In Howard County, Dixon was sentenced to three years in prison with 712 days suspended and 197 days of jail credit towards his sentence for one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 5 felony. The remainder of the time served was deferred to home detention and probation.
During his hearing in the Wells Circuit Court earlier this month, Prosecutor Colin Andrews stated that Dixon acted as a sexual predator from 2022-23.
“(Dixon) has really caused some damage for the victims in the case and himself,” Andrews said. “I can’t help but wonder where we would be if this was left unchecked for longer periods.”
Judge Kenton Kiracofe referenced several recent cases in the court.
“The court had a sentencing this morning where the individuals aided in the act,” Kiracofe explained. “They drove the car that aided in the act of what Dixon has done today.”
Kiracofe also referenced the long list of child solicitation cases, where an adult is led to believe they are meeting up with a minor for sexual conduct, but is met by a decoy and a police officer.
“Mr. Dixon goes on a website, meets a child, and has sex with the child — in several counties,” Kiracofe said. “He’s taken it to the next step.”
Dixon is ordered to serve each of his sentences consecutively. Because he was recommended for the Sex Offender Management and Monitoring, or SOMM program in prison, Dixon has the potential to receive a sentence modification at a later date.
sydney@news-banner.com
