Child molester found guilty

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - 24-year-old Kyle Lynch hung his head, pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes as the verdict was read. He was found guilty of molesting a three-year-old boy who was left in his care for a short period of time on day in October 2009.

The little boy had to be taken to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health where he spent a week because of his injuries.

"I have no doubt that the guilty verdict was correct," said Lynch's uncle Shane Lynch. "I wish I could say different, but I don't."

The prosecution and defense rested Thursday morning in Tippecanoe Superior Court and closing arguments from both parties lasted until early afternoon. It was the third day of the trial, with the first two days involving testimonies. Lynch decided not to take the stand to testify in his own defense.

The prosecution told the jury DNA evidence points to Lynch, plus he confessed and even wrote a letter of apology.

The defense argued there wasn't enough evidence without a reasonable doubt to tie Lynch to the crime.

The jury deliberated for nearly three hours, and came back with a guilty verdict for the class A felony.

After hearing the verdict, Kyle Lynch pleaded guilty to being a habitual offender. The count adds 30 years to whatever Lynch's sentence will be.

His defense attorney Patrick Manahan said both he and Kyle Lynch are disappointed with the jury's guilty verdict.

"We certainly believe there was doubt there we found otherwise," Manahan said after the trial ended. "The young man has had a horrible life from the time he was very young. Molested when he was very young. Now he is looking at a horrible sentence."

But Shane Lynch said what happened to his nephew growing up doesn't give him the right to commit a crime.

"He knows he put a man in prison for what, the same thing he did. He knows that it is wrong," he said.

Lafayette Police Detective Joe Clyde felt Kyle Lynch will be paying for his wrong.

"We are very happy for the victim and the family. It's been a lot of work and it's good to see the outcome we got today," Clyde said.

The victim and the family are on the forefront of Shane Lynch's mind.

"On my own behalf, I would like to say I'm sorry for what they had to go through. My heart goes out to them," Shane Lynch said.

Kyle Lynch will be sentenced next month. He faces 50 to 80 years in prison.