Ex-Henry coroner draws suspended sentence

Former Henry County Coroner Robert Scott Troxell received a suspended sentence Monday on charges that he last year arranged to pay a Muncie woman to have sex with him in front of her children, Troxell, 35, now of Muncie, reached an agreement with prosecutors that called for him to plead guilty to attempted vicarious sexual gratification, a class D felony, in exchange for three years supervised probation, including six months on electronic home detention. Troxell also must undergo sex education and sex therapy, complete 100 hours of community service with the Indianapolis Urban League and Community of Love -- agencies that work with the underprivileged and HIV positive -- and register as a sex offender for 10 years. Delaware Circuit Court 5 Judge Wayne Lennington warned Troxell, a former New Castle funeral home director, that any future violations would result in his sentence being served in prison rather than on probation. The ex- coroner admitted in court to arranging through an Internet chat room to meet a woman at a Muncie motel June 27, 2005, and pay her $750 to have sex with him in front of her children. The woman notified police, who arrested Troxell when he arrived at the southside motel with $750. He resigned as coroner a few days later. "By the grace of God these children were not exposed to a traumatic experience that could've lasted a lifetime," Lennington said. From the witness stand, Troxell said very little during Monday's hearing and did not give a public statement of remorse.