Sexual fondling by trustee alleged

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A township trustee in Whitley County was charged with multiple felonies that accuse him of inappropriately touching three women who were visiting his home to seek financial assistance.

Cleveland Township Trustee Roland “Ron” King, a Republican who lives in rural South Whitley, is accused of inappropriately touching three women between June 10, 2011, and June 11, 2012, the Indiana State Police said.

King, 74, was jailed on three felony counts of official misconduct and three misdemeanor counts of battery.

He posted $40,500 bond and was released Monday afternoon from the Whitley County Jail.

King uses his home to conduct trustee business, the statement said. He answered the telephone with “township trustee,” when contacted by The Journal Gazette on Monday evening.

“I never fondled any of them,” King said. “That’s all I can say.”

King said the women were at his home on official business seeking financial assistance from the township.

In 1998, King defeated Democrat Larry Lancaster by 90 votes and no one has challenged him since.

King said he doesn’t intend to resign from office.

dadams@jg.net

For more on this story, see Wednesday's print edition of The Journal Gazette or return to www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Wednesday.