A former Indianapolis police officer was sentenced to more than 70 years in prison after admitting to molesting a young girl and recording her with a hidden camera.
Kamal Bola, 36, was found guilty last month in Hendricks County of child molesting, sexual misconduct with a minor, voyeurism, and obstruction of justice. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 72 years in prison plus three years probation.
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- 1 Hidden camera found
- 2 Confession
- 3 Arrest, re-arrest and resignation
- 4 Guilty verdict, sentencing
- 5 Leadership reactions
Bola, a former officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, had served for six years before being arrested in September 2024. The arrest came after a 14-year-old girl called the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office and accused Bola of sexual assault.
Hidden camera found
The girl was apparently tidying her room when she discovered a little digital camera hidden on a bookcase. Prosecutors say the victim informed her mother about the camera, who confronted Bola.
Bola, an IMPD officer at the time, agreed to purchase the camera but was unable to explain why it was in the child’s room. The mother then called the police in Hendricks County, leading Bola to allegedly destroy one of the cameras he had purchased.
Bola nearly immediately blurted out, “I never touched her,” when police began questioning him about the camera, according to investigators, before even bringing up the charges of inappropriate touching of the child. However, the 36-year-old eventually confessed.
Confession
Court documents show Bola admitting to “cuddling” the young victim in her bed, which he claims led to more inappropriate groping and sexual intercourse. He further stated that he “pleasured himself” after touching the child and had naked images of her on his phone.
Bola reportedly wrote the victim an apology note that read: “I should’ve never put my hands on you… I am so ashamed and embarrassed… I have done something horrible and ruined everything. Please don’t think of me as a monster.”
The Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office performed a forensic interview with the victim, which revealed that Bola began molesting the child two years before deputies began their investigation.
Arrest, re-arrest and resignation
Bola was arrested on September 3, 2024, and placed into the Hendricks County Jail. He was initially jailed without bond on child molestation accusations. During an initial hearing two days later, a judge set his bond at $30,000 cash.
Bola was released from jail on September 18 after posting bond and negotiating a pretrial release agreement. Then, on the morning of September 24, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an Avon residence for a “suspicious person in violation of protection orders.”
A witness reported seeing a man identified as Bola seated in a white SUV near a neighborhood bus stop. The witness claimed he observed Bola “attempting to cover his face with his hands” before speeding away. Multiple images obtained at the location proved Bola’s presence.
Bola was arrested again and hauled into jail that afternoon, charged with invasion of privacy for breaking a no-contact order. That charge has since been consolidated with previous charges in the child molestation case.
Former IMPD Police Chief Chris Bailey suspended Bola shortly after the allegations surfaced, and the department’s Civilian Police Merit Board recommended he be fired. Then, following his second arrest on September 24, 2024, Bola resigned from the IMPD.
Guilty verdict, sentencing
Bola was found guilty on January 29 in Hendricks Superior Court 4. His allegations were:
- Child Molesting (Level 1 Felony)
- Child Molesting (Level 4 Felony)
- Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (Level 4 Felony)
- Sexual Misconduct with a Minor (Level 6 Felony)
- Voyeurism (Level 6 Felony)
- Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony)
Bola was also found not guilty of one additional count of child molesting, which is a level four felony. According to internet court records, there was no ruling on his invasion of privacy complaint.
Then, on Tuesday, February 24, Bola was sentenced to 72 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. In addition to the prison sentence, he received three years of probation.
The Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office commended Christine Archer for prosecuting the case, HCSO Detective Sam Chandler for serving as the lead investigator, and Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Centers for their assistance with the victim.
Leadership reactions
Prosecutor Loren Delp said Bola’s punishment should serve as a message to other child sex offenders. Delp’s entire remark can be found below:
“Let this sentence serve as a warning: if you prey on a child in this community, we will find you, we will build the case brick by brick, and we will put you in prison. No title and no position of trust will shield anyone from accountability. This case was particularly disturbing because dedicated law enforcement officers were forced to investigate one of their own. That betrayal of trust only strengthens our resolve. Protecting children is not negotiable, and we will pursue the maximum consequences the law allows.”
Former IMPD Chief Bailey stated at the time of Bola’s arrest that the claims were “disturbing and unacceptable.”
“Children must be able to trust that those in positions of authority will protect them at all times. We demand the highest standards of conduct from our officers, both on and off duty,” Bailey said on Sept. 5, 2024. “These allegations represent a severe breach of trust the community places in law enforcement. Our thoughts are with the victim and their family. Ensuring the safety of our community, especially our most vulnerable members, is and will remain our highest priority.”
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett expressed his dismay on social media.
“I was appalled to learn that an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer was arrested today for crimes involving a child. Chief Bailey’s swift action to suspend this particular officer and recommend him for termination to the IMPD Civilian Police Merit Board sends a clear message that IMPD does not and will not tolerate behavior such as this. My thoughts are with the victim and their family.”
In September 2024, the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police published a statement condemning the recent arrests of Bola and other IMPD officers, including Javed Richards and Paul Humphrey. The FOP statement described the sexual abuse allegations as “deeply disturbing.”
“Tragically, we are reminded that no profession is immune from such predatory possibilities,” the FOP said.
