Fulton County jury finds man guilty of child molesting

Christopher S. Steinert, 34, of Rochester, was found guilty of child molesting Thursday. He was subsequently remanded into custody without bond to await sentencing, which was set for 3 p.m. Nov. 20 in Fulton Circuit Court. 

A Fulton County jury on Thursday found Christopher S. Steinert, 34, of Rochester, guilty of child molesting, a Level 4 felony. 

The verdict was reached around 3 p.m. following two and a half days of testimony, including that of Steinert and his victim. The jury was released for deliberations after roughly an hour of closing arguments that began just before noon. 

Fulton County Deputy Prosecutor Rachel Arndt began by revisiting elements of the charge, which stemmed from Steinert inappropriately touching a girl under the age of 14 at his home while she slept over.

The Fulton County Department of Child Services contacted the Indiana State Police to assist in investigating that act in May 2023 following a forensic interview conducted at the girl's school.

"I think it's obvious that she was absolutely scared to death to be in this courtroom," Arndt told jurors of the girl giving her testimony. "I practically had to stop her from sprinting out."

Despite that fear, Arndt noted that the girl was still able to tell the jury exactly what had happened to her – how "cuddle time" had resulted in the touching of her vagina and Steinert telling her that she would "get used to it."

Arndt acknowledged that the girl couldn't recall some finer details of the incident, such as the exact date or what Steinert was wearing at the time. However, she added that the girl was still credible. 

One person's credibility that was brought into question during the case was that of Perry Hurley, who was previously incarcerated with Steinert at the Fulton County Jail. Steinert reportedly admitted his act to Hurley in hopes that he could help him with his defense, going as far as to draw a diagram of where his home was located and getting his take on accusing someone else of the offense.

Hurley would later disclose that information to a retired homicide investigator he's familiar with in the area of St. Joseph County. 

"From what I gather, he'd offered to help before he realized kind of what the nature of the accusation was," Arndt said, adding that as it started unraveling, he wanted nothing to do with it. 

The prosecution referred to Hurley as somewhat of a "jailhouse lawyer," due to his frequent run-ins with the law. Arndt acknowledged that he was no saint, or someone she would trust with her purse; however, she noted that he did provide corroborating information to support the girl's claim. 

"Chris told him that he had touched the girl during cuddle time," Arndt said. "He knew it occurred in his home and that he planned to accuse someone else of this offense."

Steinert would later send a letter to the girl's grandparents doing just that, additionally claiming that he had never been alone with the girl and asking her to recant her statement twice. 

To back up Hurley's credibility, Arndt pointed out that he flew to Indiana from across the country to testify for a child he doesn't even know, sacrificing wages and putting himself in danger to do so. 

Arndt also highlighted Steinert's apparent admission to the act when interviewed by police. When advised it wasn't the only time it had happened, Steinert responded by saying, "It is. As far as I know, it is."

Danny Saiz, Steinert's defense attorney, argued that the case rested on people's testimony. He added there was no evidence from a cellphone, no medical evidence, no photos or videos.

"I don't believe the prosecution has given you enough," he told jurors. 

He went on to question what a proper reaction would be to being questioned by detectives about such a claim, especially from someone who has never been in trouble with the law before, never been arrested. 

Saiz said his client appeared stunned and shocked in that interview. He also highlighted Steinert's 18 denials of guilt, arguing that his so-called "slip-up" of admission was a misunderstanding. 

He additionally pointed to discrepancies in the girl's testimony, as well as details she couldn't remember. He also referred to Hurley as a convicted burglar, thief and liar who possibly believed he would get a deal from the state for his testimony. 

As for the letter to the girl's grandparents, Saiz asked jurors if it was possible he was simply asking for the girl to tell the truth. 

In rebuttal, Arndt told jurors that Steinert said it best in a phone call he made from jail to his father.

"When he learned that Hurley was coming back to Indiana to testify, he said, 'In other words, I'm f*****,' and as fun as it is to get to say the F word in court, that's what Steinert said, and he wasn't misunderstood or speaking out of context," Arndt said. "He knew that when you all heard Perry Hurley's testimony, (the girl's) testimony, from state police and the Department of Child Services, you all would know what happened beyond a reasonable doubt."

Once the verdict was read aloud, neither the state nor defense wished to poll the jury. Steinert's mother could be seen crying from the front of the gallery as Circuit Judge Chris Lee thanked jurors for their service and both sides for their handling of the case. 

Lee subsequently entered judgment of conviction and ordered Steinert be remanded into custody pending sentencing, which was set for 3 p.m. Nov. 20. He additionally ordered that a presentence investigation report be prepared by probation department. 

Arndt credited the successful conviction to the jury being able to weigh the credibility of Steinert to his victim. 

"He gave too many inconsistent statements, which helped her credibility and hurt his," she said. She additionally commended law enforcement on the investigation and Prosecuting Investigator Dave Lawson for his efforts in preparing the state for trial.