We hope that today’s “READERS FORUM” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way? 

WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays“Readers Poll” question is: If the election was held tomorrow for the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor race who would you vote for?

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Nearly All Indiana House Republicans Issue Statement Supporting Bosma

The plea deal would help Kenneth Kirby The Third by reducing his eight felony charges to three.

In march of 2018, Morgan Clark allegedly escaped what was called a domestic violence attack that left her beaten, bruised, and trapped in her car that was later found burning.

Clark is recovering, but says she’s afraid that her ex boyfriend Kenneth Kirby The Third will harm her again, and that a plea deal could endanger her and her

children.

Morgan Clark says the only peace she has is knowing Kirby is behind bars.

Court documents show Clark was being held at a home against her will where she suffered abuse at the hands of her children’s father, Kenneth Kirby The Third.

Morgan, fearing for her life was reportedly held at gun point after sustaining bruises and facial lacerations.

“I was able to escape my own car,” says Clark.

The Clark family is confused why Kirby is only facing three charges.

“I think its ridiculous. I think its ludicrous,” says Morgan’s sister Katie Clark.

Police say Kirby is no stranger to the law.

He was arrested in 2014 for a home invasion and again in 2017 for a police chase.

“Now he has tried to kill her and he almost succeeded,” says Katie.

“And he got it dropped down to just battery when he held a gun to her head the whole time, and he beat her over and over with a gun the whole time tortured her for six hours.”

The Clark family says the justice system failed Morgan.

“I lost everything when he took my car and burnt it up. Right now I don’t have a way to take my kids to the doctor or even get a job right now so that is tough on me,” says Clark.

“I’m scared for whenever he gets out. I already have a restraining order, but I don’t know if there is a such thing as a lifetime one because that would be nice.”

The Clarks believe the plea deal doesn’t go far enough to protect their family.

“It scares me half to death” says Morgan’s grandmother Shirley Powers.

“I do have a gun permit and have security cameras.”

It’s not just a plea for help for just Morgan, but for all women surviving domestic violence.

“We need help. We don’t know where to start. We don’t know what to do,” says Clark.

“Hopefully the judge and the prosecutor will see this and not let the plea deal go through.”

The Clark family will be at Kirby’s court date tomorrow.

Kirby could potentially plead guilty, accept the plea deal and be sentenced.

If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.

44News reached out to the Vanderburgh County prosecutors office who says they will answer questions on this case after the court date Thursday.

Compared to the last midterm election cycle, the Vanderburgh County election office hasn’t seen much of an increase. County election officials say after almost a week of early voting, a little more than 700 people have come in to cast their ballot.

What election officers have seen is a boom in mail-in ballots. They say that they’ve already sent out 2,600 mail-in ballots. They believe the reason for the influx is a mass mailer campaign by the Democratic Party that sent out thousands of mail-in applications.

Early voting started on October 10th and runs all the way to November 5th at the Vanderburgh County election office at the Evansville Civic Center. There are also a couple of Saturdays, October 27th and November 3rd where voters can come in from 8am to 4pm to cast their ballot at the official office.

Monday of next week early voting opens up to more polling places. At Central Library, McCollough Library, North Park Library, Oaklyn Library and Red Bank Library voting will start October 22nd and run Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 PM and then Fridays from noon to 5.

If you can’t make it out during the week but still want to cast your ballot early, two Evansville area polling places have you covered. Northeast Baptist Church and Cedar Hall School will be open October 27th and November 3rd from 8AM to 3PM.