Man sentenced for exchanging lewd photos with Henry County child

NEW CASTLE, Ind. — An Anderson man who sent lewd photos to a 12-year-old Henry County girl has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

James D. Jennings, 41, pleaded guilty to vicarious sexual gratification, dissemination of matter harmful to minors and possessing materials that showed juveniles in sexual situations.

He was sentenced Monday by Henry Circuit Court 1 Judge Bob Witham, drawing a six-year sentence for the vicarious sexual gratification conviction, a Level 4 felony carrying up to 12 years in prison.

The judge imposed one-year sentences, to be served consecutively, for the other two convictions.

Jennings was arrested in August after Henry County sheriff's investigators determined he had exchanged more than 2,000 text messages with a juvenile over a 12-day period in June.

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An affidavit said Jennings had sent the girl lewd photographs of himself and also persuaded her to send him photos, some showing her genitalia.

One of the photos of Jennings showed him wearing a hat that was part of his apparel at the Anderson restaurant where he was employed as a dishwasher, according to the document.

Deputies became aware of the text exchanges after the girl's parents found evidence of their child's interactions with the Anderson man. In the messages, Jennings identified himself as the father of three children, and discussed his desire to have sex with the Henry County juvenile, investigators said.

According to court records, Jennings has been convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, resisting law enforcement and theft.

At Monday's sentencing hearing, Jennings received credit for 348 days already spent in jail.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, seven other related felony charges pending against the Anderson man were dismissed.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Man gets 8 years for sending lewd photo to Henry County juvenile