Orleans Man Faces Child Molesting Charges Following State Police Investigation

An Orleans, Indiana man has been charged with child molesting and dissemination of matter harmful to a minor following an investigation by the Indiana State Police.

Dakota M. Stidham, 23, faces a Level 1 felony count of child molesting and a Level 6 felony count of disseminating harmful matter to a minor in Lawrence Superior Court. A Level 1 felony in Indiana carries a sentencing range of 20 to 40 years.

According to a probable cause affidavit signed August 27, 2025 by Indiana State Police Trooper Matthew Fleener, the case originated from a forensic interview conducted June 9, 2025 at a location in Bloomington. The minor victim, then approximately 13 years old, disclosed an incident alleged to have occurred around July 4, 2022, at Stidham's residence in Orleans. Stidham was approximately 22 at the time. The two were connected through a family relationship.

The minor victim told investigators the incident had not been disclosed to her parents until recently.

During the investigation, Stidham was interviewed by Trooper Fleener and later participated in a pre-polygraph interview at the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post on August 10, 2025. In that interview, Stidham made admissions consistent with the charges. The polygraph examination was not conducted following those admissions.

The case is filed in Lawrence Superior Court.

This report is based on a probable cause affidavit. The charges are allegations. Stidham is presumed innocent unless convicted.