A 40 year old Mt. Carmel man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for sexually a child. Thomas Rosche was sentenced Tuesday in Wabash County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to a Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child less than 13 years old.

Rosche was originally charged with two Class X sexual assault charges, but one was dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea on the other count. He will have to serve at least 85% of the 35 year prison term and then be on three years to life parole following his release.

The charges stem from a Mt. Carmel Police Department investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of two victims under the age of 13. In April, Rosche was extradited to Wabash County from Sarasota, Florida where he was picked up there by the sheriff’s department on the Wabash County warrants.

Rosche’s arrest was the second in this investigation with 32 year old Lona McKee of Robinson being arrested in December of 2021 for Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault less than 13 years of age and Permitting the Sexual Abuse of a Child. She’s due back in court on November 14th for a pre-trial hearing.