KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — A jury trial began this morning for a child molesting case that took place in 2016. Jonathen Raven Lovelace, 23, 2669 West CR 700S, Claypool is accused of child molesting, a level four felony along with a habitual offender sentence enhancement due to a previous robbery conviction in Kosciusko County.

During the mornings jury selection process, seven females, five males and one alternative female were appointed to the jury. The case is set to continue this afternoon in Superior Court I with Judge David Cates presiding, attorney Matthew Buehler representing Lovelace and Deputy Prosecutor Katy Hampton representing the state.

The case stems from events that took place in October 2016. According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Oct. 31, 2016, officers with the Warsaw Police Department spoke with the victim’s parents. The parents advised that Lovelace was at their residence on Oct. 27 and playing with their daughter.

After Lovelace left the residence, the daughter told her mother that Lovelace made her put her hand on his penis. The mother had observed the two under the daughter’s bed playing and told them to get out from under the bed. A caseworker with Child Protective Services spoke with the daughter. The child advised that Lovelace and she were playing a game under the bed called beautiful girls and handsome boys.

The jury trial will continue this afternoon, Tuesday, Jan. 17, and tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 18.