A Merrillville man is accused of abusing a young boy over a three-year period.
Randell G. Wheeler, 64, is charged with child molestation where the suspect is at least 21 years old, a Level 1 felony; and two counts of child abuse – fondling or touching a child under 14, a Level 4 misdemeanor.
The Merrillville Police Department was contacted by police in Worth, Illinois about a credible report of child abuse in Merrillville, according to the probable cause statement. The abuse is alleged to have occurred between 2016 and 2019, when the child lived in Merrillville.
The boy’s mother contacted police after her son reported being touched inappropriately by Wheeler, the documents state. He asked his mother if he could tell her something ‘bad’.
The victim, who is currently 14, and his mother met with detectives from the Lake County Sheriff’s Specific Victims Unit, court records state. The victim told police the abuse started when he was six or seven and started showering. Once he was in the shower, Wheeler entered the bathroom, removed his clothing, got into the shower with the victim and forced him to perform a sex act, the affidavit said. This happened 1-2 times a week and continued until he was 9 and went to live with his father.
The boy told police he remembered someone arguing with Wheeler and telling the child to sit next to her because Wheeler was a “child molester,” the documents state.
