A 45-year-old northwest Valley man accused of abducting and molesting a 5-year-old girl on Christmas has been charged with eight felonies. The charges against Larry Jon Ladwig include kidnapping, molestation of a child and child abuse - all Class 2 felonies and considered dangerous crimes against children. They were made public Wednesday.
Ladwig also faces charges of unlawful flight from law enforcement, aggravated assault, possession or use of dangerous drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a criminal complaint released by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
Ladwig was being held without bond given the nature of the allegations.
On Tuesday, Phoenix police and Mayor Phil Gordon honored the officer credited with the arrest. The officer spotted Ladwig's Ford Ranger pickup truck and helped rescue the victim several hours after a Christmas Amber Alert was broadcast across Arizona.
The girl told investigators Ladwig touched her inappropriately and a forensic medical examination showed the girl suffered an injury consistent with sexual abuse, according to court records.
Records also showed Ladwig was twice convicted in the past five years for possession of methamphetamine, including one instance where Phoenix patrol officers found him passed out in a truck parked behind a strip mall, covered in pornographic magazines and "wearing women's panties and a woman's halter top."
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/12/30/20091230ladwig1230-ON.html
