JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WHAS11) -- An accused Jeffersonville child molester faced a judge Monday morning, Jan. 29. The courtroom was full of his alleged victims' family members.
Eighteen-year-old Michael Begin Junior was first arrested last October, he is accused of molesting two young girls.
Since then, that investigation has continued and resulted in more charges that were filed late last week.
It was an incredibly emotional hearing as the courtroom was full of the alleged victims' family members. The hearing comes after Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull filed additional charges late last week. Begin is now accused of molesting a total of 17 girls. The girls range in ages of three to seven.
Investigators say the abuse happened between September and October of 2017 at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, where Begin was a teacher's assistant, and at the YMCA in Jeffersonville, Begin worked in childcare there.
During the hearing, the prosecutor called Begin a danger to the community and asked the judge to hold him in jail on a $1 million full-cash bond. But instead, the judge sent Begin to jail with a $100,000 cash bond.
A victim's grandmother, who gave WHAS11 permission to use her identity, was heartbroken over the decision.
The judge set Begin's trial for Aug. 21, 2018.
In the meantime, the prosecutor says this is an ongoing investigation and it's possible there could be more victims. Any parents or caretakers who fear their child could be a victim is urged to contact the Jeffersonville Police Department immediately.
