Indiana man with 'limited' understanding escapes prison on sex charge

J Swygart, The Lima News, Ohio
·2 min read

Apr. 8—LIMA — An Indiana man with what his attorney termed a "limited" mental capacity avoided prison at his sentencing hearing Wednesday in Allen County Common Pleas Court.

Douglas Obendorf, 35, Auburn, Indiana, pleaded guilty in February to a third-degree felony count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Judge Terri Kohlrieser sentenced him to complete programs and counseling at the WORTH Center and to serve five years on probation "because frankly, I'm concerned about your well-being should I place you in prison."

The judge called the case "a little questionable" and said it was at times difficult to know who or what to believe.

Obendorf was ordered to complete sex offender counseling and "any other programs recommended by your probation officer" as a condition of his probation. As a Tier II sex offender he will be required to register with the authorities in his county of residence every 180 days for the next 25 years.

Obendorf was indicted in September on charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a felony of the fourth degree.

According to court documents, on Aug. 13 of last year deputies were dispatched to the 4600 block of North Napoleon Road and spoke to the mother of the alleged 15-year-old male victim. She said that when she walked into her bathroom she observed the victim and Obendorf with their shorts and underwear pulled down to their knees.

The investigating officer spoke with the victim who admitted performing oral sex on Obendorf. When another officer arrived he reportedly found Obendorf in the back yard of the residence "staring aimlessly with his penis in his hand," according to court documents. Obendorf was taken into custody at that time.

During a jailhouse interview later that day Obendorf said he was preparing to take a shower when the juvenile came into the room, grabbed his penis and placed it in his mouth. Obendorf told the officer he pulled away from the victim.

The alleged victim, however, told police a different story, claiming it was Obendorf who initiated the sexual contact and attempted to perform anal sex with the teenager.

Following a psychiatric examination at the Forensic Psychiatry Center of Western Ohio in Dayton, Obendorf was found competent to stand trial. Kohlrieser on Wednesday said the report revealed that Obendorf has an eighth-grade level education.

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