On May 28th the Indiana State Police were called to assist the Loogootee Police Department with the report of a rape.
Indiana State Police Trooper Detective Shane Staggs responded and gathered information from the Loogootee Officer and then began his investigation.
During the course of his investigation, it was discovered that Dakota Lee Browning, 26 of Jasper, IN had met the juvenile victim at a graduation party and had gone to a residence in Loogootee with the victim following the graduation party.
In the early morning hours of May 26th, it is alleged that Browning went into the bedroom the victim was sleeping in and had sexual intercourse with the victim against her will.
Detective Staggs was able to gather enough probable cause for the Martin Circuit Court to issue arrest warrants for Browning for Rape a Level 3 Felony and for Child Molestation a Level 1 Felony.
All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
