More young kids come forward with stories of abuse at hands of high school senior
Matthew GlowickiA Jeffersonville High School senior already charged with child molestation is facing new allegations that he abused more than a dozen other youths.
Michael Begin Jr., 18, is now charged with 24 counts of child molestation after police say he inappropriately touched 17 children ages 3 to 8 while working as a teaching assistant at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and at the YMCA in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
After Begin was charged in October 2017 with two felony counts of child molesting stemming from his time at the elementary school, more children came forward.
Police now say four additional girls at the elementary school were touched inappropriately by Begin in the library or in the hallway, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Friday in Clark Circuit Court.
Background:Jeff High School senior accused of molesting two 6-year-old girls
The newly filed affidavit also states that Jeffersonville police were first notified on Sept. 25 that a 5-year-old told her mother she was molested by Begin on the YMCA playground.
Investigators went to the YMCA on Oct. 3 and spoke with two members of leadership who said they were aware of the investigation and knew it involved Begin.
Steve Tarver, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Louisville, said in a statement that Begin was suspended "as soon as the allegations emerged" and fired "once the investigation began."
A spokeswoman declined to clarify when exactly those actions were taken.
"As always, we continue to evaluate policies and procedures to maximize the safety of those we serve," Tarver said.
On Oct. 17, police were told of two separate reports of child molestation at the elementary school.
According to court records, two 6-year-old students told their parents that Begin had touched them under their clothes during the school day.
Surveillance video at the school recorded that moment and corroborates the child's account, prosecutors said in court records.
Begin was arrested and charged the next day. He has pleaded not guilty.
As news of the arrest spread, Jeffersonville police were told of five children who attended the YMCA in 2017 who said that "Mr. Michael" either touched them inappropriately as they worked on homework or colored, tickled them or made them lift their shirts while they were at the YMCA.
While talking with one of those children, a 7-year-old girl, police were told of another child, a 4-year-old, who said she experienced the same abuse at the YMCA.
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That 4-year-old disclosed she saw Begin do the same thing — inappropriate touching underneath a table — to another child.
When police pulled video surveillance from the YMCA, according to court records, only one day's worth of footage from days Begin worked was recovered. Investigators were led to four more youths by watching that video.
According to police, Begin is seen in the recording touching a 5-year-old beneath a table as she colored, occasionally looking up at the door where people could enter the room.
He then attempted to do the same to a 4-year-old sitting next to the other girl, but she slapped his hand away.
In total, police say 17 children were victimized between January and October of 2017.
Begin was at the elementary school as part of his high school's Cadet Teaching Program.
A call to a school district spokeswoman was not immediately returned.
When Begin was arrested on Oct. 18, he told police he was sorry, that he wasn't sure why it happened and that it was an error in judgment.
Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/mattg