FRANKLIN, Ind. — Mark LaPlante, a 51-year-old man from Grant, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of child molestation in Indiana. The Johnson County court handed down the sentence on Friday, and LaPlante will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Conviction & Sentencing
LaPlante was found guilty of two counts of child molestation in January, following a brief trial where the jury reached a verdict in just 14 minutes. Prosecutors said he sexually abused a child between 2019 and 2022 while living in Johnson County, Indiana, before later moving to Alabama.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim bravely testified, revealing that LaPlante had also committed similar crimes in Alabama. The judge noted that LaPlante betrayed the trust of an already vulnerable child, which served as an aggravating factor in the sentencing decision.
Prosecution’s Response
Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner described LaPlante as a “monster” and stated that he will now “spend most of the rest of his miserable life in an 8′ x 10′ cage” for his years of abuse against a defenseless child.
Deputy Prosecutor Bridget Foust also praised the victim’s courage, stating that without their bravery, “we would not be able to hold those that hurt children accountable and stop them from hurting anyone else.”
LaPlante faced a maximum sentence of 52 years, but the court ultimately sentenced him to 30 years behind bars.
