Sentencing hearing set for this month in child molesting case

A sentencing will be held later this month for a man convicted of child molesting in Bartholomew County.

According to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office, Jason Danner was found guilty last week of a felony child molesting charge. They say that the investigation began in the fall of 2022, when the abuse was reported to the Columbus Police Department. An investigation was conducted and completed in 2023 and charges were filed against Danner in early 2024.

A jury trial was held last week and the victim, family members of the victim, and members of the Columbus Police Department testified. The jury found Danner guilty after about three hours of deliberation.

Prosecutor Lindsey Holden-Kay said the “verdict brings justice for a young victim and helps ensure our community is safer.” She praised Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Sexton-Yeager and Deputy Prosecutor Mathew Taylor for their success in securing a conviction in what she called a very difficult case.

Danner is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23rd and is facing 20 to 40 years in prison.