ST. PAUL, Ind. (TCD) — A 22-year-old man is facing child molestation and other charges after his underage girlfriend reportedly gave birth to his child.
Court records show Stephen Hamilton Jr. was charged Jan. 10 with child molesting where defendant is at least 21 years of age, child molesting, sexual misconduct with a minor, and child exploitation. He was arrested Jan. 16 and booked into the Shelby County Jail.
According to court documents cited by WXIN-TV, Hamilton and the girl had been dating for about two years, starting from the time she was around 12 and he was 20. They reportedly connected through mutual friends. Hamilton allegedly told investigators the girl told him she was 16 years old, but they continued to date even after he learned her real age.
He allegedly said they “enjoy spending time with each other” but did not go out in public as a couple.
WXIN reports the teen’s family did not approve of their relationship, but Hamilton allegedly previously discussed the situation with her mother. The mother purportedly gradually became more open to their relationship.
The teen told officials she met Hamilton when she was buying a phone at Walmart, and the two began a “sexual relationship.”
According to the documents cited by WXIN, the teen said she was not sure if Hamilton was the child’s father because she had reportedly been raped by a 14-year-old. She reportedly acknowledged the law noting minors under 16 years old cannot have sex.
Investigators allegedly found text messages and a sexual video involving the teen and Hamilton on his phone.
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