A convicted child molester has been denied early release by an Elkhart County Superior Court judge.

Superior Court 3 Judge Teresa Cataldo acted on Robert James Rodes’ modification of sentence request after hearing arguments Thursday morning at the Elkhart County Correctional Facility, according to the Goshen News and News Now Warsaw.

The former Goshen man was transported from the New Castle Correctional Facility. Rodes represented himself.  He said that if he were to be released, he would receive assistance by completing a three-month residency at South Bend’s Walking with Jesus Ministries. After than, he planned to live with his wife in Nappanee where he had been offered employment. Elkhart County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Patrick Dowd represented the state, according to electronic court records.

Rodes’ denial Thursday added to a list of several unsuccessful attempts over the years at having his sentenced modified or reduced since he was first imprisoned.

Rodes, 55, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of child molestation in May 2000 in which he was charged with molesting his three daughters and a niece over a 17-year period.

A court-appointed doctor who evaluated Rodes in May 2000 determined him to be a high risk to repeat his offenses, and that he would not be a suitable candidate for rehabilitative therapy.

Rodes’ earliest scheduled release date from prison is January 2018.