Mills Man Pleads Not Guilty to Multiple Charges of Child Sexual Abuse

A Mills man pleaded not guilty to nine counts of child sexual abuse during his arraignment in Natrona County District Court on Tuesday.

Jonah Decker entered the pleas before Judge Kerri Johnson to three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, and three counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

The nine counts were three groups of three first-, second- and third-degree charges each from Dec. 24-26, Nov. 23-Dec. 23, and Aug. 1-Nov. 21.

If found guilty on all counts, Decker could receive a sentence from 75 years to 255 years imprisonment.

Decker, born in 1984, remains in custody on a $50,000 cash bond, according to court records.

Johnson said a trial date will be set later.

The case started on Dec. 26, when a Casper Police officer notified a Mills Police detective about a woman who went to the Casper Police department to report the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl according to an affidavit filed in Natrona County Circuit Court.

The girl said Decker made her touch him the day before and on previous occasions.

The next day, the girl was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Project. She said Decker had been touching her inappropriately since she was in the second grade, according to the affidavit.

The woman who reported the alleged assaults showed the Mills detective and an agent with the Wyoming Department of Family Services texts from Decker, who apologized saying he was "stupid and drunk."

On Dec. 27, officers executed a search warrant at Decker's residence.

The Mills Police detective interviewed Decker, who said he had worked in numerous jobs. Decker said he did not initially remember many details because he was drunk during the night of the alleged abuse, but he remembered more as the interview continued.

He was arrested and taken to the county jail.

Conviction of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by 25 to 50 years of imprisonment; second-degree sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment; and third-degree sexual abuse of a minor is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment.