Repeat child molester gets 253 years in prison

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP/WISH) - A central Indiana man has been sentenced to 253 years in prison for child molestation — an offense for which he has already served time behind bars.

A Madison County judge sentenced 37-year-old William Everage of Anderson on Monday. Everage pleaded guilty last month to 19 counts of child molesting. The victims' families claimed Everage manipulated them so he could get close to their children.

"If ever there was a life without parole that was needed in a case outside of a murder conviction, this would be the poster case," Deputy Prosecutor Stephen Koester said.

A jury trial for Jessica Tooley, Everage's girlfriend, is scheduled for July 17. Prosecutors allege the pair molested an 11-year-old girl late last year.

Everage was released from prison in 2010 after serving five years for two child molesting convictions.

Following his arrest in March, Everage told an investigator he started molesting children when he was 17 years old, 24-Hour News 8 news partner The Herald Bulletin reports .

Everage didn't update his information on the Indiana sex offender registry following his release from prison, and was still shown online as residing at the Indiana Department of Correction.

The mother of one of Everage's victims has created a not-for-profit group called Citizens Against Pedophiles in part to urge authorities to be more vigilant in monitoring the registry. Her efforts led state Rep. Jim Merritt to pledge that he would propose the Legislature close the loophole that allowed Everage to go untracked.

A few members of the group were outside the courthouse Monday holding signs.

Koester said he couldn't understand why Everage would commit the same crime just months after being released from prison.

"How does that happen?" he asked.

Everage told the judge he has an addiction and needed treatment.

"I don't know why I can't keep my hands to myself," Everage said.

He was released from prison in November 2010, and settled in Anderson to be close to his family.

“I waited 20 years to see my family, and in less than one year I throw it all away,” Everage said.