NEW WHITELAND — A Whiteland teenager is being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond — 450% higher than the standard amount — after being charged as an adult in the alleged burglary and rape of a 79-year-old woman.
Prosecutors requested the elevated bond due to what they called "the heinous nature of the crime." The defendant is now housed in the Johnson County Jail after previously being held in juvenile detention in Hamilton County.
The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office filed charges of rape and strangulation in adult court, against 16-year-old Ariahn Smith.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the 16-year-old male was first reported to New Whiteland police as a runaway on Tuesday morning.
While searching for the 16-year-old, police learned of a theft at the Sunoco gas station at Ardmoor Dr. and US 31. The caller said the teenager stole a vape from their convenience store. The suspect was located and taken into custody.
The owner of the gas station led police to the location of the 16-year-old after the young man allegedly stole a vape.
"Whenever he got the chance, he grabbed the vape and ran, and she yelled for me and I ran with a grocery behind him, and I found him behind the neighborhood," said Gangesh Dimri.
The video shows Smith wearing all black. It was the same description given to the police about the runaway teen.
"I was on the phone to 911, giving them location. Within two minutes, the cops came," said Dimri.
Moments later, police were dispatched to a separate investigation nearby, where they learned that a 79-year-old woman had been raped.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the woman told police that she was carrying groceries during the attack. She said she was walking in and out of her house, and on the third trip, a male was inside. The alleged victim said he grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth.
She stated that she attempted to stall the man by telling him that her son-in-law would be arriving soon, and she convinced him to pray with her.
"This lady did everything she was supposed to do, and it's sad it didn't work," said Prosecutor Lance Hamner.
However, immediately after they finished praying, the woman said the suspect grabbed her by the throat and began strangling her. She said the suspect then raped her, according to what was told to authorities.
After the attack, police say the male ran, and this is when he stole from the gas station.
The woman described the suspect, who matched the description of the 16-year-old, and was later able to identify him in a photo array.
"This is the worst case that I've seen in the entire three years I've been Johnson County Prosecutor," said Hamner.
Hamner said the magnitude of the crime played a role in charging Smith as an adult.
"A lot of people would expect that to go into juvenile court, but we are very fortunate in Indiana that legislature has recognized that certain crimes are so serious they belong in adult court. This is an automatic file right in adult court," said Hamner.
Hamner said the rape charge carries a maximum of 16 years in prison. Smith also faces up to two and a half years for strangulation.
All criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in a court of law.
