50 years in prison for child abuse after his wife uncovered the crime

CAMBY, Ind. (WXIN) – Court documents say that when a wife suspected her husband was cheating on her, she stole his phone to look for evidence.

However, what she allegedly found on the phone was far worse than infidelity. Her discovery has now led to him probably going to prison for the rest of his life.

Paul M. Soots, 42, is accused of 22 counts of child abuse, including several first-degree felonies – the most serious crime in Indiana besides murder.

According to court documents, Hendricks County Sheriff’s officers were called to Soots’ home on March 22, 2023. When officers arrived, they were confronted by Soots’ wife, who revealed her surprising discovery.

Soots’ wife, who has since divorced him, told police she suspected her husband was cheating on her and searched his phone for evidence. But even more horrific videos were found on the phone, court documents say.

Deputies said they reviewed the contents of the phone and said images and videos showed Soots performing sexual acts on a child.

Officers reportedly confronted Soots, who was sleeping on the couch. He admitted the phone was his and officers took him into custody.

Soots’ trial was scheduled to take place on June 24, but the trial was canceled after Soot agreed to sign a deal pleading guilty to one count of child molestation, a Level 1 felony, and one count of child molestation, a Level 5 felony.

The settlement provides for a prison sentence of 50 years.

At a court hearing on Wednesday, a judge accepted Soots’ plea agreement and the 50-year prison sentence.

“Today, Mr. Soots accepted the state’s offer to serve 50 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, which is effectively a life sentence given his age,” said District Attorney Loren Delp. “In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the death penalty for child molesters to be ‘cruel and unusual punishment.’ While that may be the law of the land and as prosecutors we are obligated to follow it, we can respectfully disagree.”

The 50-year prison sentence is the maximum sentence allowed in Indiana for a Level 1 felony.