A 35-year-old Salem man was released today from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department at 12:57p after Prosecutor Tara Hunt dismissed charges of child molestation that originally put Jeremy W. Underwood in jail back on August 3.
The Washington County Prosecuting Attorney released the following statements earlier today.
“As the elected Prosecuting Attorney, it is my office’s responsibility to pursue justice for both the community and victims in every case we handle. Even after an initial filing decision is made, the investigation and discovery processes in a criminal matter can remain ongoing. When my assessment of a case changes based on the totality of the circumstances, I have a duty to reevaluate the charges alleged and determine whether charges should be added, amended, or dismissed.
“I take every investigation seriously from my initial review through trial, fully understanding the impact each case has on both a victim’s and a defendant’s life. If developments occur at any stage of the process that make it unjust to the parties involved to continue prosecution, I am obligated to make the difficult decision to dismiss charges. This is why our criminal justice system rightfully considers all defendants innocent until proven guilty.
“Child sex crimes are among the most serious matters my office handles, and I consider their prosecution one of my highest priorities. Since taking office in 2023, we have secured convictions against more than 32 defendants for child sex crimes, resulting in approximately 153 years of incarceration. This represents a more than 300% increase in filings compared to the three years prior to my election, during which there were 15 convictions totaling approximately 38 years of incarceration. These results demonstrate my unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.
“In the State of Indiana v. Jeremy Underwood, after reviewing the totality of evidence obtained through the ongoing investigation, proceeding would have been unjust to the parties involved. As a result, we requested that the charges be dismissed and the defendant released, which the court has ordered. While these decisions are never easy, they are essential to ensuring that the pursuit of justice remains fair, ethical, and in accordance with the law.”
Hunt dismissed three charges against Underwood.
