Indiana student faces 20 additional counts of child molestation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A high school student in southern Indiana faces 20 additional counts of child molestation, according to local reports.

Michael Begin Jr., an 18-year-old former high school student of Jeffersonville, appeared in court Monday morning over charges of molesting children between 3 years old and 7 years old.

These molesting allegations arose from incidents that occurred at Jeffersonville's Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said.

Some victims say they were molested more than once, local media have said.

Begin was working at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School as part of Jeffersonville High School's Early Childhood Education class, according to a Greater Clark County Schools spokesperson.

Begin was arrested in October following accusations of molesting two 6-year-old girls. He was later released from jail after paying a cash bond and being placed on electronic monitoring.

Authorities said they received reports of more victims after Begin was initially charged.

Begin pleaded not guilty to the original charges. His attorney, Jennifer Culotta, said her client maintains his innocence.

Mull said he would ask the judge to place Begin back in jail until a trial is completed. Enditem