Man convicted of molesting in absentia gets 70 years

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Updated: February 23, 2012 8:08AM

A former East Chicago man convicted in absentia during a jury trial last fall was sentenced to 70 years in prison for molesting a 12-year-old girl in 2007

William LaShun Caples, 31, apologized to the victim’s family, his family and the judge, saying he was ashamed of what he’d done.

Boswell imposed two 35-year sentences on two of the three class A felony charges and ordered them run consecutively. Caples faced a 20- to 50-year sentence on each of the charges.

The girl’s father said the crime has devastated the family. “I do believe people can change,” he said, but each person is responsible for his own actions. The father said Caples was a neighbor who knew the family. “Our kids played together. It still hurts. We’ll continue to heal as a family, but the scars are still there,” the father said.

The girl’s mother said their daughter had to endure an abortion at age 12, which was a difficult decision for them to make. “Her virtue was stolen from her,” she said.

Caples’ grandmother, Jerrylene Nesbitt, said after Caples posted bond in the case, which was filed in December 2007, he began attending church and confessed his sins before the congregation. “God forgave him,” she said.

Deputy prosecutor Judy Massa argued for the maximum sentence of 50 years and asked for consecutive sentences because Caples performed two different sex acts on the girl.

Defense attorney Derrick Julkes argued for leniency in light of his client’s lack of prior criminal conviction and the girl’s testimony that no force was used.

During the trial, Caples threatened the girl if she told anyone.

Julkes asked Boswell to set aside the verdict and argued Caples missed his trial because of a hospitalization and restrictions on his travel. Julkes said Caples had blood clots a week before trial and his discharge instructions limited his ability to drive and walk up stairs. In addition, an individual who had given him a ride to court previously wasn’t available to assist Caples for his trial, which ended in his conviction Oct. 13 after about two hours of deliberations.

Boswell denied the request.

Caples said he plans to appeal