Man faces new sex charges

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A 19-year old man arrested last week on charges of inappropriate contact with a minor was arrested again Thursday on new charges.

Tyler Wilkinson was first arrested earlier this month and charged with child exploitation and sexual misconduct with a minor. Those charges came from allegations from a 14-year-old girl that Wilkinson met her online, asked for nude photos of her, then used the photos to blackmail her into sex.

On Thursday, Wilkinson was arrested again on new felony charges of rape and child molestation. Those charges involve another girl uncovered during the investigation into the initial allegations against Wilkinson.

While searching Wilkinson’s text messages, police reported finding text messages from another person accusing Wilkinson of rape.

Police traced those texts to a 14-year-old girl in Terre Haute. When police interviewed the girl, she told them she met Wilkinson online and that the two eventually met up at a park.

At the park, the girl said she got into a car with Wilkinson and the two began to talk. She said eventually, Wilkinson forced himself on her sexually and raped her.

Wilkinson is being held on $75,000 bond.