Man charged with sexual misconduct

February 23, 2011

COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man has been charged with sexual misconduct with a minor in connection to an incident involving an under-aged girl.
According to police and the Whitley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Ryan S. Shearer, 22, engaged in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl on Sunday at his residence on County Road 150 East.
Police were contacted Sunday by an unidentified female who said her sister was missing.
The female gave information to police that led them to the Shearer residence where the girl was located and removed and taken to be examined.
Shearer was in Whitley County Circuit Court Tuesday for an initial hearing and was assigned Public Defender Brad Voelz to represent him.
Whitley County Circuit Court Judge James Heuer issued a search warrant of Shearer’s home and ordered Shearer held on $50,000 bond.
According to the report filed by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, evidence was collected at the Shearer residence.
Heuer set a pre-trial conference for Shearer in Whitley County Circuit Court for March 21 at 9 a.m.