South Bend man charged with sex crime against teen

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A St. Joseph County man was recently charged with and arrested for an alleged crime that happened in May of 2017.

On May 21st, 2017, 45-year-old Hugh Edmond Kirby allegedly touched a 16-year-old woman's breasts without her knowledge or consent.

The young woman was staying at a friend's house in South Bend. According to the victim, she was woken up in the early morning to what she thought was a dog licking her, when she realized it was actually Hugh Kirby fondling her.

Investigators interviewed the victim and witnesses before conducting an interview with Kirby on June 9th of 2017.

During the interview with Kirby, investigators say he admitted to "accidentally" touching the young woman’s breasts while petting a dog that was lying on her chest.

Kirby was officially charged with sexual battery on December 14, 2017 and arrested on January 30th. He has since been released from the St. Joseph County Jail on a $500 bond.