Seymour man arrested on child molestation charges

Jerry Rice; photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

Indiana State Police Detectives arrested a Seymour man on child molesting charges following a four month investigation.

Authorities say the investigation began in May when a female came forward to report she had been molested by 73-year-old Jerry W. Rice on multiple occasions in the early to mid-nineties when she was between three and nine years old. The woman reported that the incidents occurred at a home owned by Rice in rural Jackson County.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives say they found a second victim of Rice who had not come forward until now. The second victim told investigators that Rice molested her in the mid-eighties in Vallonia.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the Indiana State Police submitted the case to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for review. On Thursday, Indiana State Police arrested Rice at his home.

Rice was charged with two counts of Child Molesting, Class A Felony, and two counts of Child Molesting, Class C Felony. He is being held pending his initial court appearance in Jackson Circuit Court.