Bob Kasarda

MICHIGAN CITY — An 84-year-old local man was handed what amounts to life behind bars after being found guilty in May on three counts of child molesting and two of possessing child pornography, records show.

John Hupertz was sentenced to 96 years behind bars, which was the term sought by prosecutors.

The molestations occurred between 2005 and 2010 when the victim was 4 to 9 years of age, according to a court document.

The victim, who knew Hupertz, came forward to report the allegations in February 2021 at the age of 19, police said.

She said the majority of the incidents occurred at the Michigan City home of Hupertz, records show. One incident was reported in Valparaiso.

The victim said she had kept the information a "secret" because Hupertz had asked her to as they were o

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