Fort Wayne Inmate Accepts Plea Deal in Child Molestation Case, Faces 12-Year Sentence

A man already behind bars could see over a decade added to his time after admitting to molesting a child under the age of 10.

Dean Barrand Jr., a Fort Wayne man currently serving time for an unrelated theft conviction, pleaded guilty Tuesday to child molestation in a deal that would lock him away for 12 more years. The now 46-year-old admitted to assaulting a young girl in her sleep back in 2019 — an act she says he later pretended had never happened.

Plea deal drops second charge, but the sentence remains heavy

The case had been working its way through the court system for months. Originally, Barrand faced two felony counts of child molesting. The plea agreement reduces that to a single charge — but there’s no slap on the wrist here.

If the judge signs off on the deal, Barrand will serve 12 years in prison followed by four years of probation. That’s on top of whatever time remains on his current sentence for theft.

The sentencing is scheduled for June 26 before Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull.

Victim’s account: “He acted like it never happened”

According to court documents, the assault happened when the victim was just 10 years old or younger. The girl told Fort Wayne police that Barrand assaulted her while she was asleep. She woke up mid-assault, she said, and saw him run away. Afterward, he said nothing.

“He acted like it never happened,” she later told investigators.

That one sentence stuck out in the affidavit. Detective Miranda Lasley, who authored the probable cause document, said the victim’s story was consistent and clear — and chilling. There was no mistaking the trauma or the memory.

How the case developed while he was already in prison

Barrand was already serving time for an unrelated theft conviction when the child molestation charges caught up to him. He’s been behind bars since that earlier conviction, but this case has been brewing in the background.

• Initial charges: Filed earlier this year.

• Prosecutor’s evidence: Based on victim testimony and corroborating statements.

• Defense strategy: Barrand took the plea deal before trial, potentially to avoid a harsher sentence.

It’s not unusual for new charges to surface while someone is already incarcerated, but child sex offenses carry a different weight — both legally and socially.

Fort Wayne reacts: anger, disgust, and quiet relief

Cases like this shake communities. And in Fort Wayne, where the headlines have been full of violent crime, drug raids, and political protests, this one still managed to cut through the noise.

Local residents expressed outrage online.

“This guy should never see daylight again,” one Facebook user wrote under a news post.

Parents in the area say they’re fed up. “I just want to know my kid can sleep in peace,” said one mother of two, who asked not to be named. Others voiced concern that too many of these cases end in plea deals.

But for the victim and her family, there may be some small relief in avoiding the pain of a trial.

How Indiana handles child molestation sentencing

Indiana has some of the strictest sentencing guidelines in the country when it comes to crimes against children. Under current law, a Level 1 felony child molestation conviction can carry 20 to 40 years in prison, with 30 years as the advisory sentence.

But not all cases result in maximum penalties. Prosecutors sometimes opt for plea deals when they believe:

• The evidence could be difficult to present at trial

• The victim may suffer additional trauma by testifying

• A guilty plea ensures prison time and official acknowledgment of guilt

In Barrand’s case, that trade-off led to a 12-year sentence. Still, under Indiana law, he’ll have to serve at least 75% of that time due to the nature of the offense.

What’s next: sentencing looms, but questions remain

The final decision lies with Judge Fran Gull. If she agrees to the deal — and there’s no guarantee she will — Barrand will be formally sentenced later this month.

This isn’t just a paperwork formality. Judges in Indiana have the authority to reject plea deals if they believe the proposed sentence doesn’t match the severity of the crime.

All eyes will be on that June 26 hearing.

Meanwhile, questions linger.

Why did it take so long for charges to be filed? Was anyone else aware? Are there other victims?

Barrand isn’t saying much. And his attorney hasn’t commented publicly.

For now, one thing is clear: a child molester has confessed, and he’s likely to remain behind bars for many more years to come.