AUBURN, Ind. (AP) – Prosecutors have charged a northeastern Indiana man with giving tattoos to teenage girls in exchange for sex or nude photos and coerced money from some of them.
A DeKalb County judge has ordered 29-year-old Jason Schwartz of Butler be jailed without bond as he faces felony charges including child molesting and possession of child pornography.
The Star of Auburn reports Schwartz pleaded not guilty this week to the charges that authorities say involved 11 girls. The Journal Gazette reports the girls are between 13 and 15.
Authorities say Schwartz pursued the girls between March and June, when he was first arrested on sexual misconduct charges. Investigators say he used his tattoo artist skills to entice the girl.
Schwartz’s defense attorney didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Friday.