A Plymouth man was arrested on Friday, August 25th for one count of Child Molesting as a level 1 felony and one count of Child Molesting as a level 4 felony.
33-year-old Daniel Arthur Kneifel from the 13,000 block of 12th Road in Plymouth was arrested at about 2:15 in the afternoon by county police.
Court documents show that on July 26, 2022, the Department of Child Services received a report of sexual abuse involving a 13-year-old. The report indicated that over the prior weekend, the victim was involved in a sexual incident with Daniel Kneifel.
On August 1, 2022, the victim was taken to the CASIE Center in South Bend for a forensic interview. The victim said the incident happened at the Pretty Lake boat ramp. The child said the next day the family member took them for a ride and asked the victim for a sexual favor while driving around.
Daniel Kneifel came to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department on August 18, 2022, with a lawyer. He explains the relationship with the child and says they discuss being bullied and confusion about the child’s sexuality. Given the opportunity to submit to a polygraph examination, Kneifel refuses.
On January 17, 2023, the Department of Child Service received a second report alleging sexual abuse that happened on Thanksgiving. The 13-year-old victim was interviewed a second time at the CASIE Center and details two sexual incidents.
On February 8th, 2023 Daniel Kneifel comes to the Sheriff’s Department again with a lawyer. He alleges the victim approached him.
After discussing the flirtatious acts seen in the video Kneifel blames the sexual situations on the 13-year-old victim and refuses to submit to a polygraph examination.
He was arrested and lodged in the Marshall County Jail for two counts of Child Molesting and held on a $50,000 cash bond.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.
