Tribune Staff Reports

NORTH VERNON

A 20-year-old North Vernon man has been arrested on charges of child molesting and contributing to the delinquency of a minor after he picked up a 12-year-old at the North Vernon City Park on Tuesday and took her to a home in Jennings County.

Mark A. Liles, 20, was arrested Thursday in the 1700 block of County Road 675N, said Sgt. Andrew Richmond, North Vernon Police Department spokesman. Liles was being held in the Jennings County Jail with bond set at $2,605, jail officials said.

North Vernon police began investigating after a runaway report filed Tuesday listed the 12-year-old as missing. The parents of the girl reported they saw their daughter getting into Liles’ car at the park, Richmond said. The parents said they followed and tried to confront Liles, but he sped away before they could recover their daughter, Richmond said.

On Thursday, North Vernon detectives Nick Megel and Ivory Sandefur received information that the girl and Liles were at the County Road 675N address in Jennings County, Richmond said. Both were taken into custody and brought to the police department, Richmond said.

Liles told police he had sexual contact with the 12-year-old and was arrested, Richmond said. The 12-year-old was released back to her parents, Richmond said.