Honk News – A couple from Morgan County is confronting over 50 charges each, including serious allegations of child molestation, human trafficking, and neglect of a dependent.
On Thursday, charges were brought against Brian and Sonja Stafford, both aged 60, encompassing a total of 121 counts associated with child molestation, strangulation, and various other offenses against minors, with incidents reportedly dating back to 2011.
Legal filings indicate that Brian Stafford hails from New Castle. Sonja Stafford hails from Plainfield. Both individuals appeared for their initial hearings on Thursday at Morgan Superior Court 2 in Martinsville, according to online court records.
Court documents reveal a timeline outlining the offenses perpetrated against a minimum of 11 victims in Morgan County, though the exact location remains unspecified. The connections among the victims and the Staffords remain ambiguous.
Brain Stafford faces 59 felony counts, including allegations of personally molesting four victims under the age of 14.
Sonja is currently dealing with 58 felony counts and four misdemeanors related to domestic battery, but she is not being charged with molestation. However, prosecutors assert that she choked the young victims by their necks. She faces allegations of preventing at least eight victims from providing information to law enforcement in June 2020.
The next court date for the Staffords has been scheduled for March. A jury trial is set for June 3, though it’s common for Indiana courts to adjust trial schedules.
As of 1:50 p.m. Thursday, they were not found among the inmates at the Morgan County jail in Martinsville. According to online court records, Brian’s bond has been established at $60,000 surety or $4,000 in cash. No bond has been established for Sonja.
Authorities indicate that the Staffords’ release on bail is contingent upon the issuance of no-contact orders.
Sonja and Brian’s divorce proceedings began in May and reached a conclusion in November. The case was categorized under “Domestic Relations with Children,” and the divorce settlement included a requirement for parenting classes.