Docs: Indianapolis man convicted of performing sex acts on child

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man has been convicted after he reportedly forced a child to perform sexual acts on him.

According to officials with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, 34-year-old Charlie Buchanan was initially charged with one count of child molesting, a Level 1 felony, and a misdemeanor count of intimidation. Buchanan was convicted after a one-day court trial.

In October 2023, detectives with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s child abuse unit began an investigation after a child disclosed to a school counselor that a man, later identified as Buchanan, forced them to perform sexual acts. This comes after the child attended a body safety presentation at school.

In an interview with the child, the child told law enforcement that he did not want to perform the sexual acts, but Buchanan made him do it. The child said that Buchanan told them that he would “whoop (the child) with a belt” if the child did not perform the sexual acts.

The child told law enforcement that they told several people about the acts, but “no one believed” them. When approached with the allegations, court documents stated that Buchanan denied the conduct.

During the investigation, detectives found that the abuse occurred between January 2018 and September 2023. Officers spoke with multiple individuals who heard about the allegations from the child a year before the investigation occurred.

According to court documents, Buchanan’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26.