Boone County Predator Conviction Upheld By Court Of Appeals

Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood announced today that the Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction of Evan Alexander Geeslin, 61, of Richmond, Indiana, who was convicted in Boone County of Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Level 5 Felony. The Court of Appeals issued its decision on August 17, 2026, rejecting Geeslin's appeal and affirming his conviction.

Geeslin was convicted by a Boone County jury in November 2025 following a one-day trial in Boone Superior Court I and was sentenced in December 2025 by Judge Matthew Kincaid to three (3) years at the Indiana Department of Corrections. The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Deputy Prosecutor Heidi Jennings and Deputy Prosecutor Jordan Clouser. The conviction arose from an August 2025 undercover child predator operation conducted in Boone County through a collaborative effort led by the Boone County CASE Task Force, with assistance from the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department, Boone County Sheriff's Office, Lebanon Police Department, Zionsville Police Department Avon Police Department, Indiana State Police, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and other law enforcement agencies. Evidence presented at trial established that Geeslin communicated online with an undercover officer whom he believed was facilitating a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl. Geeslin traveled from Richmond to Boone County intending to engage in sexual activity with the child and arrived with condoms before being taken into custody by law enforcement officers.

On appeal, Geeslin argued that the trial court should have ordered a competency evaluation before trial. In a unanimous decision authored by Judge Robert Altice, the Court of Appeals determined that Boone Superior Court I did not abuse its discretion in declining to order such an evaluation. The appellate court noted that Geeslin demonstrated an understanding of the proceedings, appropriately responded to the trial court during earlier hearings, and appeared to be choosing not to speak during portions of the proceedings rather than being unable to understand them. The Court ultimately concluded that there was no basis to overturn the conviction and affirmed the judgment in its entirety.

"The Indiana Court of Appeals' decision confirms that this conviction was obtained fairly and in accordance with the law," Prosecutor Kent Eastwood said. "The jury carefully considered the evidence, found the defendant guilty, and that verdict has now been upheld on appeal. I am grateful for the work of Deputy Prosecutors Heidi Jennings and Jordan Clouser, Avon Police Department Detective Joseph Davi, and every member of the Boone County CASE Task Force who works every day to protect children and hold offenders accountable."

Eastwood added, "One of the most effective ways to protect children is to intervene before a child is ever victimized. This case is an example of law enforcement and prosecutors working together to identify predators, stop them before they can harm a child, and ensure they are held accountable under Indiana law."