1:59 PM March 23, 2006
 
Westfield girl, 18, accused of having sex with younger teen
March 23, 2006
 
A Westfield High School girl is being prosecuted on felony charges for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old male schoolmate.

The father of Laura M. Wilcox, an 18-year-old senior who survived a drunken-driving accident that killed two classmates in 2004, declined to discuss the charges of sexual misconduct with a minor today. He indicated, though, that he and his wife were puzzled by the case involving consenting teens.

"We certainly have an opinion," said Daniel Wilcox. "I can't share anything. You'll have to talk to my attorney."

Attorney Sam Robinson was out of the office and unavailable for comment today.

In a statement of evidence submitted last week to obtain a warrant for the girl's arrest, Hamilton County Sheriff's Department investigator Kija Ireland said the crime occurred after Wilcox gave the boy a ride home from school on Feb. 1.

The Star generally does not identify alleged victims of a sex crime.

Ireland labeled the boy V#025 in her statement. She said he described what happened with Wilcox in a Feb. 14 interview.

"V#025 asked the accused to come inside his residence," said Ireland. "Once inside, the accused and V#025 started making out and then went to V#025 bedroom, where the accused performed (a sex act) on V#025.

Sheriff's Maj. Mark Bowen said authorities set up the interview with the Hamilton County Division of Child Services after the boy's parents filed a complaint on Feb. 6.

The warrant ordering the arrest of Wilcox was obtained after attorney Robinson told investigators she would not consent to an interview. Wilcox surrendered and was released on $10,000 bond pending trial.

In November 2004, Wilcox and three friends were in a car that veered off I-80 near Gary and crashed into an asphalt roller. The impact ejected 16-year-old classmates Kristin Rice and Travis Woerner. Both died.

Police determined that the four had obtained alcoholic beverages and had been drinking prior to the crash. Evidence also indicated that the car's driver, then-17-year-old Nicholas Gaunt, might have lost control of the car as Wilcox, his front seat passenger, tugged on his arm.

Gaunt, who had a blood alcohol level of 0.14, is being prosecuted as an adult on charges of drunken driving causing death.