Update: Peterson has reportedly been located as of early Tuesday morning, Feb. 11.
Boone County law enforcement authorities have announced that a search has commenced for a child molestation suspect with 9 felony counts against him after he posted bond and failed to report to Boone County Community Corrections on Friday, Feb. 7.
Authorities stated that John Eric Peterson, 52, currently has a warrant out for his arrest after he posted bond, which was set on June 7, 2022 in the amount of $50,000, and was released from the Boone County Jail on Feb. 7, failing to immediately report to Boone County Community Corrections for a GPS monitor and allegedly fleeing the area.
Peterson’s trial is set for March 4. The trial was originally scheduled for Oct. 17, 2022, but it was rescheduled to Jan. 9, 2023, by request, court documents show. According to court documents, following multiple requests for a rescheduled jury trial, the last decision was filed on Nov. 7, 2024, to reschedule the jury trial from Dec. 11, 2024, to March 4, 2025. Judge Lori Schein also issued an order to grant a motion to amend the charging information and add counts against Peterson on Jan. 21, 2025, court documents show. The motion for an initial hearing on amended counts and added counts with the defendant appearing occurred on Jan. 28, 2025, documents show.
On Monday, Feb. 10, documents show that an emergency motion for GPS monitoring was filed alongside a motion to revoke bond and a warrant for Peterson’s arrest following his posted bond on Feb. 7.
A case was opened against Peterson on June 2, 2022, with a warrant being issued on June 6, 2022, which led to charges being filed against Peterson for five counts of child molesting where the defendant is at least 21 years of age, level 1 felonies, one count of child exploitation with an aggravating factor, level 4 felony, one count of child molesting with fondling or touching of a child under 14, level 4 felony, one count of possession of child pornography with an aggravating factor, level 5 felony, and one count of neglect of a dependent where the defendant places the dependent in a situation that endangers the dependent, level 6 felony, as of Monday, Feb. 10.
According to court documents, Peterson took videos of himself abusing a child, and police stated that Peterson also allegedly possessed several photos of an adult man sexually abusing children ranging from toddlers to teenagers.
At the time of his arrest, Peterson reportedly lived in a home owned by his mother in Whitestown, but she has since moved out of state and the home is up for sale.
The court officially issued a warrant for Peterson’s arrest on Monday, Feb. 10, and the court documents state that the State believes he continues to pose a danger to the community and the victim.
Community members with information regarding the whereabouts of Peterson are instructed to contact their local law enforcement immediately.