Zionsville Police Accuse Man Of Molestation After DNA Test

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. -- A DNA test has linked a man to a hat that police believe belonged to whoever molested an 8-year-old boy in a Zionsville park in June, authorities said.

Stephen J. Taylor was charged last week with a felony count of molestation after police received results from the test.

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Police Accuse Man Of Molestation After DNA Test

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Investigators believe Taylor molested the boy at Creekside Park after offering him $100 to perform an oral sex act on the boy, Zionsville police said.

Before Taylor was identified as a suspect, investigators believed that a Chicago Bulls cap that was found in the park belonged to whoever molested the boy. Investigators sent the cap to a laboratory, which collected DNA from the object, police said.

On Aug. 30, Taylor was arrested in a Plainfield park after someone complained that he was acting suspicious, authorities said. Police said they confiscated from Taylor a note offering to give someone $100 if they would allow him to perform oral sex on the note's recipient.

After Plainfield police contacted them about the arrest, Zionsville police obtained a search warrant for a DNA sample from Taylor. The sample was sent to a lab, which confirmed on Sept. 22 that Taylor's DNA matched the DNA found with the hat.

Investigators said Taylor appears to be a drifter who once lived in Speedway. He has a prior criminal record for resisting arrest in Hamilton County. Taylor was being held Monday on $100,000 bond.