Docs: Muncie man accused of fondling 10-year-old during camping trip

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man has been accused of fondling a 10-year-old while on a camping trip earlier this month.

According to court documents filed in Delaware County on Monday, 38-year-old Michael Gelos was arrested on the following preliminary charges:

• Two counts of child molesting, each a Level 4 felony
• One count of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony
• One count of neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony.

On Saturday, officers with the Muncie Police Department were dispatched to a reported rape/sexual assault. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman and her 10-year-old son about an apparent incident that occurred on Friday.

The woman told officers that her son was on a camping trip at Prairie Creek Reservoir with a neighbor’s family, including Gelos. On Friday evening, the documents said that the woman received texts from her son stating that Gelos allegedly touched him in “private spots.”

In an interview with the woman, her son reportedly told her that he was asleep in a tent when Gelos entered and eventually lay next to him.

Gelos then reportedly fondled the 10-year-old and showed him sexually explicit videos. The documents said that the 10-year-old confirmed this information in a separate interview.

In an interview with Gelos, the documents said that Gelos told officers that he was in the tent alone with the 10-year-old. Gelos reportedly admitted to fondling the child and showing the cihld sexually explicit videos.