Thread: Man with weapons and possible explosives arrested, was going to L.A. gay pride parade

James Wesley Howell charged with child molestation

Michael Anthony Adams and Jill Disis, jill.disis@indystar.com
2:52 p.m. EDT June 15, 2016

The Indiana man was arrested on his way to a gay pride parade in Los Angeles in June 2016. Wochit



(Photo: Nick Ut, AP)


JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — James Wesley Howell was charged with child molestation on Wednesday, officials with the Clark County prosecutor's office said.

Howell, 20, is accused of having sex with an underage girl on May 31, just days before he was arrested in Los Angeles County with weapons and an explosive mixture on his way to a gay pride event.

Howell left for California after he learned he was under investigation in the alleged molestation, Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull told IndyStar.

"I believe he left the state of Indiana and went to California because he understood that this child molesting investigation was ongoing and he was in imminent danger of being arrested," Mull said.

INDIANAPOLIS STAR James Wesley Howell suspect in underage sexual assault

This latest charge is just one of many Howell faces; not just in Indiana, but in California and Kentucky too.

On Tuesday, he was charged in Los Angeles County with three felonies: possession of an assault weapon, possession of explosives on a public highway and possession of a high-capacity magazine, Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said. He also faces a misdemeanor charge for possession of a loaded weapon.

A grand jury in Louisville, Ky., also indicted Howell on separate charges of speeding, fleeing police and reckless driving for an incident that happened in February.

If convicted on the molestation charge, Howell could face up to 17 years in prison, Mull said.

This story is breaking and will be updated.
Call IndyStar reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @michaeladams317.

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/c...tion/85925896/

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