UPDATED: Cater receives sentence

Vincent Tyrone Carter [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The sentences handed down by Judge Dena Martin gave Carter the maximum amount of time behind bars that is allowed by Indiana law plus extra time for being an habitual felony offender.

Carter was initially charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor: Sexual misconduct with a minor, a class C felony; two counts of child solicitation, both class D felonies; and recklessly furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors, a class C misdemeanor.

However, the first count of a C felony sexual misconduct and one of the D felony child solicitation counts was later dismissed by the prosecution.

Under the terms of a negotiated plea agreement, Carter agreed to plead guilty to the remaining two counts which were one count of child solicitation as a class D felony and the class C misdemeanor of furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors plus a sentence enhancement for being an habitual felony offender.

The state was represented by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Jackson Stone and Carter was represented by Public Defender Alan K. Baughman.

The 43-year-old Carter is listed as a "Sex Predator" with an alias of "Caveman" on Indiana's Sex and Violent Offender Registry.

Carter was arrested Feb. 13 by Det. Sgt. Keith McDonald of the Linton Police Department following an investigation into a complaint of alcohol and sex parties being hosted for minors by Carter at his residence on Glenburn Road in Linton.

The investigation began when one of the children involved came to the police station with a parent and reported the situation to LPD Cpl. Chad Crynes who called McDonald.

During interviews with several children, the officers were told that "all the kids knew Vincent as dad or daddy -- Vincent told them to call him that," and that he charged kids $5 to drink alcoholic beverages at his mobile home. He allegedly purchased rum, vodka and whiskey for the kids to consume.

When Det. Sgt. McDonald conducted an interview with Carter on Feb. 10, Carter denied letting anyone else drink alcohol and denied having any knowledge of sexual activity at his house. He said his porn video was never played while anyone else was there.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Carter told the officer that underage drinking and sexual activity could have happened while he was sleeping and he named 12 minors ages 12 to 18 that were visiting and spending the night at his house.

The affidavit contained information obtained in interviews with five minors but McDonald wrote that the investigation had revealed approximately 12 other juveniles were involved in consuming alcoholic beverages and participating in sex acts at the Carter residence.

He added that all those interviewed agreed that these parties occurred on Friday and Saturday nights somewhere between four and eight weeks prior to Feb. 9.

When Carter was arrested, his bond was first set at $18,500 but the Greene County Prosecutor's Office moved quickly to request the amount be increased.

During Carter's initial hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh said the state does not usually ask for increases but they were in this case and he cited Carter's previous class A felony conviction for child molesting and another conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.

"Given his history, the state is asking for bond to be elevated to $75,000," said McIntosh.

Greene Superior Court Judge Dena Martin granted the request and Carter has remained in the Greene County Jail since the day of his arrest.

If Carter's case had gone to trial, and if he had been convicted on both counts, the possible punishment under Indiana law for the class D felony count of child solicitation ranged from six months up to three years with a fine up to $10,000, and for the class C misdemeanor of recklessly furnishing alcohol to minors -- up to 60 days in jail with a fine up to $500.

On Monday, Judge Martin's pronounced these sentences: For the child solicitation, Carter will serve three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections (DOC) with credit for days already served and pay a $100 fine plus court costs, and for the misdemeanor furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors, he will serve 60 days in the Greene County Jail with credit for 30 days served. The habitual felony offender sentence enhancement will add one and one-half years to Carter's time in the DOC.

Carter's sentences are to be served consecutively rather than concurrently.