Mills Man Charged With Multiple Counts of Child Sexual Abuse

A Mills man was charged with nine counts of child sexual abuse during his initial appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court last week.

If found guilty on all counts, Jonah Decker could receive a sentence from 75 years to 255 years imprisonment.

Decker, 34, heard the charges from Judge Steven Brown who determined he was indigent, appointed the State Public Defender's Office to represent him, and ordered him held on a $50,000 bond.

Decker is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Thursday to determine whether his case will be bound over for trial in Natrona County District Court.

Authorities moved quickly on the case when a woman reported last Wednesday to a Casper Police officer about an alleged assault on a 10-year-old girl on Dec. 25. The Casper Police officer turned the case over to a Mills Police detective, according to an affidavit filed with Circuit Court.

Thursday, the girl was interviewed at the Children's Advocacy Project, and she said Decker had been touching her inappropriately for about three years.

The woman who reported the alleged assaults showed the Mills detective and an agent with the Wyoming Department of Family Services texts from Decker, who apologized, said he was "stupid and drunk."

Thursday, officers executed a search warrant at Decker's residence.

The Mills Police detective interviewed Decker on Thursday, too. He described himself as a stay-at home-father, and had worked in numerous jobs. Decker said he did not initially remember many details because he was drunk during the night of the alleged assault, but he remembered more as the interview continued.

He was arrested and taken to the county jail.

Decker is charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, with each count punishable by 25 to 50 years of imprisonment; three counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, with each count punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment; and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor, with each count punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment.