Culver man charged for sex act in front of a child

Monday, July 28, 2025 at 4:14 PM

By Kathy Bottorf

A man from Culver is in the Starke County Jail on a $6,000 cash bond after Starke County requested assistance from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department with an investigation involving a 10-year-old girl.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Friday, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department received a call from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department requesting help in investigating an incident that reportedly occurred at a residence in the 11,000 block of State Road 10, west of Culver, in Starke County.

Marshall County officers initially responded to the residence and were informed of an alleged incident involving a 10-year-old female juvenile and an adult male, later identified as David P. Howard, 42, of Culver.

During the investigation, evidence showed that Howard had performed a sex act in front of the child. Preliminary information obtained at the scene also suggested that Howard is suspected of trying to destroy evidence related to the incident.

Howard was detained at the scene and later transported to the Starke County Jail, where he was lodged for vicarious sexual gratification and obstruction of justice. He is currently held there on a $6,000 cash bond.