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County surveyor not entitled to additional compensation, rules court

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indianalawyerJennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com

The Indiana Court of Appeals has denied the Gibson County surveyor’s claims that under statute, he is entitled to a higher salary and additional compensation for referencing corners in the county.

Michael W. Stevenson took office in 2005 when he was not a licensed surveyor, but obtained his license in June of that year. The prior surveyor had been licensed. Stevenson’s initial salary was $36,170.

In 2006, he sought a pay increase of 1.5 times what he currently made since he was now licensed, based on I.C. 36-2-12-15(b). This statute requires a licensed surveyor be paid 1.5 times the amount of an unlicensed surveyor. The county council instead added a note to the budget indicating the salary for an unlicensed surveyor would be 1.5 times less than what Stevenson made. Stevenson made this request each budget year through 2012, and was denied each time.

In 2009, he sought additional compensation for referencing all 1,959 corners in Gibson County. Statute says the surveyor receives $4 per corner referenced. This compensation was also denied, leading to the current lawsuit.

In Michael W. Stevenson v. County Commissioners of Gibson County, Indiana, Bob Townsend, Don Whitehead, Gerald Bledsoe, County Council of Gibson County, Indiana, Tony Wolfe, Jeremy Overton, et al., 26A01-1212-PL-540, the Court of Appeals found no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s decision, which held the council met its statutory obligations by establishing the lower salary for the unlicensed surveyor instead of increasing Stevenson’s salary.

There was also no error in finding he is not entitled to $35,580 in additional compensation for seven years of unpaid corner references he allegedly completed. The COA rejected his claims that to receive compensation he is required to only “have a book of records” and “sit there and draw the money.”

The statute requires the surveyor check and reference at least 5 percent of all corners in the county each year, meaning perform a physical inspection and note the condition of the monument and references in order to be compensated.

IS IT TRUE….WEEKEND

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Mole #??
Mole #??

IS IT TRUE we hear that City Councilman Jonathan Weaver is planning to sponsor an ordinance that shall define the relationship of a legal marriages or civil unions?  …if Weaver’s “Civil Union” ordinance is approved by city council it would pave the way for city employees and their same sex civil union partners to be eligible for city insurance coverage?

IS IT TRUE last week 2 Evansville police officers got into a fight at the FOP Club?  … one officer has a broken jaw and the other officer has a broken hand from the encounter?  …no investigation has been conducted or charges been filed against either officer?
 
IS IT TRUE that the Evansville police officer current “Comp Time Buy Back” program for 2014 will not occur this year due to budget issues.  …if this happens the will leave an unfunded liability for 2014 on the city accounting books? …we hope this will not consider an contractral breach of the police department collecting bargaining agreement?
IS IT TRUE we are hearing that the jointly funded city and county “NOVIA Health Clinic” is having problems adjusting to serving County employees health needs?  …we hear the “NOVIA Health Clinic” is having problems serving city and county employees health concerns because of new patient overload?  …we hope that the “NOVIA” management team will add more staff to handle the patient overload soon as possible?
IS IT TRUE that our Civic Center “MOLE” informed us yesterday that Hinderliter Environmental Services and Patriot Environmental are conducting core drilling on the proposed site for the new Downtown Hotel?  …all we can say is, very interesting?
IS IT TRUE we can’t believe how strong the CCO Readers Poll results are stating that appointed County Councilmen Pete Swaim decision not to appear on the Wood and Woods  “Good Public Policy” show is disappointing?

EPD Activity Report: February 21, 2014

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EPD PATCH 2012

 

 SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.

 

 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

EPD Activity Report:

CCO AND WOODS AND WOODS LAUNCHES “GOOD PUBLIC POLICY” VIDEO FORUM

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Woods & Woods, LLP is partnering with the City County Observer to provide top a notch community discussion venue to the general public in a bi-monthly video series titled “Good Public Policy Forum”.  Various political candidates, elected and appointed public officials and civic leaders will come together twice a month and have a discussion about local politics and other issues that are important to our community.
 
This  bi-monthly discussion will be filmed without editing at the newly renovated Woods and Woods video studio and shall be available to the              
general public to view on the newly created City County Observer video website.
 
 Well known and highly respected local attorney Mike Woods with Woods & Woods, LLP, will be the program host of the “Good Public Policy Forum”.  The first forum will be held on March 13th, 2014. Once recorded the video will be available for public view on the City County Observer website at city-countyobserver.com sometime after the recording date for five straight days.
 
We shall be announcing the first two individuals that has just agreed to participate in our first “Good Public Policy Forum” in a couple of days.
 
For more information, please visit woodslawyers.com, city-countyobserver.com or simply call Woods & Woods, LLP at (812) 426-7200.

Committee delays vote on bill to ban gun buyback programs

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Senator Jim Tomes
Senator Jim Tomes

By Olivia Covington
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Local governments could lose the ability to buy firearms back from citizens under a Senate bill that was considered in the House Public Policy Committee on Wednesday.

Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, said he authored Senate Bill 229 because he’s “never understood the logic” behind firearm buyback programs.

He said rather than allowing local units of government to buy and destroy firearms, law enforcement should take the guns and sell them at public auctions, where prices are usually higher. They could then take the revenue from auctions to buy supplies, such as bulletproof vests, ammunition or new firearms.

Damaged weapons could only be sold to federal firearm license dealers.

SB 229 would also prohibit law enforcement agencies from destroying guns, unless the serial number has been obliterated.

The bill allows citizens whose weapons are confiscated by law enforcement to request to have those weapons sold. The revenue – minus 8 percent that would stay with law enforcement – would then be returned to the weapon’s original owner.

“I don’t see where anybody is harmed in this,” Tomes said.

Bill Dowden, legislative director of the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association, said he thinks buyback programs are “feel good” programs meant to make cities appear safer. And, he said the revenue law enforcement agencies would gain under the bill would enable them to do more firearms training.

But law enforcement officials expressed concerns about the bill’s regulations on destroying firearms.

Warren County Sheriff Rusty Hart said he and the Indiana Sheriff’s Association think law enforcement should be allowed to destroy weapons that are taken from crime scenes or meth labs. He said when firearms are destroyed, companies pay for the guns and recycle the salvageable parts.

Hart said destroying quality guns is “the exception, rather than the rule.”

And, Hart said he is concerned that criminals would buy guns previously used in crimes to harm or kill more people. But Dowden said there is no nationwide evidence that supports this concern.

Stephanie Crandall, a Fort Wayne legislative and business liaison, said very few of the guns that are confiscated by law enforcement have obliterated serial numbers, which she said could lead to stockpiles of guns in police stations if they cannot be destroyed.

But both Hart and Crandall said they support eliminating the buyback program because they think it is ineffective.

A representative for the Association of Indiana Cities and Towns said the organization does not support eliminating the program, because its members want to have the authority to decide if the program is right for their community.

The committee took no vote on the bill.

Olivia Covington is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. 

Multiple Police Agencies Participate in Warrant Roundup, Five Arrested

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 SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

Gibson County – Between 8:00 last night and 2:30 this morning, Indiana State Police, Princeton Police, Fort Branch Police, Haubstadt Police, Oakland City Police and Gibson County Sheriff’s Office participated in a county wide warrant service roundup that resulted in five persons being arrested.

This roundup was the result of several months of investigating pseudoephedrine logs and finding violations. After the Gibson County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the investigation, 11 arrest warrants were issued. The five individuals arrested last night and early this morning are currently being held on bond in the Gibson County Jail. Officers will continue to search for the remaining individuals.

Arrested and Charges:
• Bryan E. Hill, 46, 500 West Warnock, Apartment E1, Princeton, Ind.
1. 10 Counts of Possession of Pseudoephedrine by a Meth Offender, Class D Felony

• Alec Minnis, 22, 920 S. Seminary Street, Princeton, Ind.
1. 3 Counts of Attempted to Purchase of Pseudoephedrine over 7.2 grams, Class C Misd.

• Thomas Robb, 54, 212 8th Street, Apartment Lot 6, Princeton, Ind.
1. 1 Count of Attempted to Purchase Pseudoephedrine over 7.2 grams, Class C Misd.

• Angel Bellamy, 37, 1953 East Logtown Road, Winslow, Ind.
1. 1 Count of Possession of Pseudoephedrine by a Meth Offender, Class D Felony

• Scott Moore, 42, 610 East Walnut, Princeton, Ind.
1. Domestic Battery, Class A Misdemeanor

Media Note:
Photo 1 – Bryan Hill
Photo 2 – Alec Minnis
Photo 3 – Thomas Robb
Photo 4 – Angel Bellamy

 

 

 

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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 SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
CARNELIUS DEVALLE LANE
Race: Black / Sex: Male / Age: 21
Residence: 732 FAIRWAY DR EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 7:48:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
FAILURE TO APPEAR-ORIGINAL CHARGE MISD 250
Total Bond Amount: $250
GAGE LEE WILLIAM DUNCAN
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 20
Residence: 5404 CARRIAGE DR EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 7:24:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
ALC-PUBLIC INTOX [BM] 0
RESIST LAW ENFORCEMENT [AM] 0
Total Bond Amount: $0
GAGE LEE WILLIAMS DUNCAN
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 20
Residence: 5404 CARRIAGE DR EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 7:12:00 AM
Released
CHARGE BOND AMT
Total Bond Amount: $0
JAMES WILLIE TRAMILL
Race: Black / Sex: Male / Age: 28
Residence: 3700 BRONSON LANE EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 4:06:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
OMVWI-B A C .08 <1.5 [CM] 0
OMVWI [CM] 0
OMVWI-PRIOR OR PASSENGER <18 IN VEH [DF] 0
TRAFFIC-OP W/O INS / PRIOR [CM] 50
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
OMOBEA KOTEA MILLER
Race: Black / Sex: Male / Age: 30
Residence: 16 E 5TH MT VERNON, IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 3:50:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
RESIST LAW ENFORCEMENT [AM] 100
Total Bond Amount: $100
JACOB SCOTT PULLUM
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 21
Residence: 8311 ANGEL DR NEWBURGH, IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 3:31:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
OMVWI [AM] 0
OMVWI-B A C .08 <1.5 [CM] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
BRANDON JOHN BILDERBACK
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 32
Residence: 22 S IROQUOIS DR EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 3:11:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
BURGLARY-RES [BF] 2500
THEFT OTHER >200 <100,000 [DF] 0
Total Bond Amount: $2500
RACHEL EARNESTINE COSBY
Race: Black / Sex: Female / Age: 35
Residence: 1225 MACARTHUR DR EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 2:57:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
PETITION TO REVOKE PROBATION 0
NARC-DEALING HASHISH [DF] 0
NARC-DEALING SALVIA OR SYNTH CANNABINOID >2 GRAM [DF] 0
NARC-POSS SCH I,II,III,IV [DF] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
AARON TIMOTHY MONTGOMERY
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 28
Residence: 1148 E CHANDLER AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 2:22:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
OMVWI-REFUSAL 0
NARC-POSS PARAPHERNALIA [AM] 100
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
MONICA LYNN EMBRY
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 23
Residence: 658 E FRANKLIN ST EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 1:36:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
VCCC FILED PTR 0
RESIST LAW ENFORCEMENT [AM] 100
FALSE INFORMING/REPORTING [BM] 50
DISORDERLY CONDUCT [BM] 50
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
GREGORY WADE SUTTON
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 43
Residence: 317 N MORTON AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 1:26:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
NARC-POSS METHAMPHETAMINE > 3 G [CF] 0
NARC-POSS MARIJUANA, HASH OIL, HASHISH, < 30 G [AM] 100
NARC-DEALING PARAPHERNALIA [AM] 100
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
JASON ALLEN LAMAR
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 42
Residence: 100 OSSI ST EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 12:56:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
ALC-PUBLIC INTOX [BM] 50
TRESPASS [AM] 100
Total Bond Amount: $150
RANDY ALLAN HELTON
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 57
Residence: 849 STANLEY AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/22/2014 12:12:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
OMVWI-B A C .08 <1.5 [CM] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
MICHAEL EARL SIGLER
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 33
Residence: 7403 YOSEMITE DR EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 11:43:39 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
COURT ORDERED CONFINEMENT 0
Total Bond Amount: $0
JOSHUA DALE WILLIAMS
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 37
Residence: 204 E LOUISIANA ST EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 11:17:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
TRESPASS [AM] 100
Total Bond Amount: $100
ANGELA MARIE MASTERSON
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 37
Residence: 1159 S BEDFORD AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 8:49:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
WRIT OF ATTACHMENT 500
Total Bond Amount: $500
SURTANA REXANNE PATTEN
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 49
Residence: 1461 SAVANNAH DR EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 7:51:00 PM
Released
CHARGE BOND AMT
FAILURE TO APPEAR-ORIGINAL CHARGE MISD 200
Total Bond Amount: $200
KACI BROOKE PATE
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 25
Residence: 1610 HOWARD ST EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 6:34:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
THEFT-SHOPLIFTING THEFT OTHER <200 [DF] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
CHAD DWAIN MORRIS
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 32
Residence: 4604 BOARDWALK DR EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 6:20:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
COURT ORDERED CONFINEMENT 0
Total Bond Amount: $0
JEREMIAH LEE BURCHFIELD
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 27
Residence: 2900 N FULTON AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 5:56:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
PETITION TO REVOKE PROBATION 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
DANIEL KEITH TOLBERT
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 31
Residence: 1010 W CHESTNUT ST MARION, IL
Booked: 2/21/2014 5:51:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
TRAFFIC-OPERATE W/O EVER RECEIVING LIC 100
OMVWI [AM] 0
OMVWI-REFUSAL 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
AARON KEITH CARNAHAN
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 27
Residence: 2137 RHEINHARDT AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 5:45:00 PM
Released
CHARGE BOND AMT
WRIT OF ATTACHMENT 0
Total Bond Amount: $0
BETH LYNN PUERTZER
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 32
Residence: 4502 FRONTIER DR EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 5:32:00 PM
Released
CHARGE BOND AMT
FAILURE TO APPEAR-ORIGINAL CHARGE FELONY 0
Total Bond Amount: $0
BRANDON LEE PAGE
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 28
Residence: 1008 EDGAR ST EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 4:47:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
SEX OFFENDER-FAILURE TO REG PRIOR CONVICTION [CF] 2500
Total Bond Amount: $2500
GEORGE WILLIAM ABEL
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 54
Residence: 906 CIRCLE DR BETHALTO, IL
Booked: 2/21/2014 4:18:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
OMVWI [AM] 0
OMVWI-B A C .15% OR MORE [AM] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
JEFFERY LYNN THOMAS
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 47
Residence: 2530 OLD BUSINESS 41 EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 3:42:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
SEX OFFENDER-FAILURE TO REG [DF] 5000
SEX OFFENDER-FAILURE TO REG [DF] 5000
Total Bond Amount: $10000
DANIEL RAY WOLFE
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 38
Residence: 428 PEMBERTON AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 3:15:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
THEFT-SHOPLIFTING THEFT OTHER <200 [DF] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
MICHAEL JAMES MCNEAL
Race: Black / Sex: Male / Age: 33
Residence: 1614 CASS CT EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 2:50:00 PM
Released
CHARGE BOND AMT
FAILURE TO APPEAR-ORIGINAL CHARGE MISD 0
FAILURE TO APPEAR-ORIGINAL CHARGE MISD 0
Total Bond Amount: $0
CYNTHIA FAY HENDERSON
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 61
Residence: 2 W EICHEL AVE EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 2:46:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
PETITION TO REVOKE PROBATION 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
DANI MARIE YORK
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 35
Residence: 7101 E WALNUT ST EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 2:33:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
PETITION TO REVOKE PROBATION 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
ANGEL MARIE LYNN KELLEY
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 25
Residence: 311 MAXWELL AVE EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 1:03:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
CTP – HOLD FOR COMMUNITY TRANSITION PROGRAM 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
WILLIAM JASON LITTLEDOG
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 36
Residence: 10266 KRISSTA LANE NEWBURGH, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 12:53:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
THEFT RECEIVE<$100,000 [DF] 500
AUTO THEFT- AUTOMOBILES [DF] 0
Total Bond Amount: $500
RYAN MATTHEW TAILLON
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 25
Residence: 100 OSSI ST EVANVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 12:34:00 PM
CHARGE BOND AMT
THEFT-SHOPLIFTING THEFT OTHER <200 [DF] 0
NARC-INHALING TOXIC VAPORS [BM] 50
OMVWI-PRIOR OR PASSENGER <18 IN VEH [DF] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
MEGAN NICOLE MCQUEEN
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 18
Residence: 2244 KATHLEEN EVANSVILE, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 11:45:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
NARC-POSS PARAPHERNALIA [AM] 100
NARC-POSS MARIJUANA, HASH OIL, HASHISH, < 30 G [AM] 100
NARC-POSS METHAMPHETAMINE [DF] 0
NARC-POSS SALVIA OR SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID <2 GRAMS [AM] 100
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
JENNIFER FAYE WITHAM
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 32
Residence: 2814 B ST EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 11:27:00 AM
Released
CHARGE BOND AMT
COURT ORDERED CONFINEMENT 0
COURT ORDERED CONFINEMENT 0
COURT ORDERED CONFINEMENT 0
Total Bond Amount: $0
CHARLES ADRIAN BLAIR
Race: White / Sex: Male / Age: 32
Residence: 712 E IOWA ST EVANSVILLE , IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 10:56:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
VCCC FILED PTR 0
NARC-LEGEND – POSS PRIOR [DF] 0
NARC-POSS SALVIA OR SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID >2 GRAMS [DF] 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
JAMIE DYAN HERRING
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 40
Residence: 10077 BOURBON ST NEWBURGH, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 10:36:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
NARC-POSS METHAMPHETAMINE [DF] 0
NARC-POSS PARAPHERNALIA [AM] 100
NARC-COMMON NUISANCE VISITING [BM] 50
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
FEBRICK QUANTA HILL
Race: Black / Sex: Male / Age: 36
Residence: 724 SWEETSER AVE EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 9:39:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
VCCC FILED PTR 0
VCCC FILED PTR 0
RESIST LAW ENFORCEMENT [AM] 100
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND
ZETTIE NMN FOX
Race: White / Sex: Female / Age: 54
Residence: 1420 FOUNTAIN AVE EVANSVILLE, IN
Booked: 2/21/2014 8:39:00 AM
CHARGE BOND AMT
PETITION TO REVOKE PROBATION 0
Total Bond Amount: NO BOND

Two Defendants Found Guilty

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 SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.nick herman
 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.

 

Reko Levels was found guilty late this afternoon by a Vanderburgh Jury of Theft – D Felony. After the Theft trial, Levels was found guilty of a Habitual Enhancement by a jury.

 

Magistrate Kelly Fink will sentence Levels next month. He faces a maximum of seven and a half years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

 

Levels was convicted of stealing a cell phone from a gas station employee in October of 2013.

 

Also found guilty by a Vanderburgh County Jury this afternoon was Thomas Boswell. Boswell was found guilty of Dealing in Methamphetamine – A Felony, Maintaining a Common Nuisance – D Felony and Criminal Recklessness – D Felony.

 

Judge Robert Tornada will sentence Boswell next month. Boswell faces between 20-50 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

 

Boswell was convicted of Dealing in Methamphetamine after a 1-pot meth lab he was cooking exploded in a downtown apartment building in July of 2013.

 

 

For further information on the case listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton, Director of Public Relations at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at kphernetton@vanderburghgov.org.

 

 

Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

 

When It Comes To Using Their Tax Money To Entice Job Creation, Hoosiers Want Transparency

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State Rep. Cherrish Pryor of Indianapolis issued the news release below on Tuesday (Feb. 18) and I wanted to make certain you received your own copy of it:

STATEHOUSE – Indiana House Republicans today rejected a proposal from State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) that would have taken significant strides in getting the state to provide more accurate information on the effectiveness of its job creation programs.

Pryor unsuccessfully attempted to secure House approval for language that would have compelled the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to include all projects in the annual Economic Incentives and Compliance Report it compiles each year. At present, the agency is required to report information on “active” projects.

“By making that specification, the IEDC is able to avoid reporting on projects it considers ‘inactive,’ which enables them to avoid listing those projects that failed to live up to the job creation requirements, even though some of them may have received millions of taxpayer dollars in incentives and subsidies,” Pryor said.

According to a recent investigation by WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, the IEDC is relying upon limited data in reporting the numbers of jobs being realized in Indiana. The station reported that the agency does not include failed or underperforming economic development deals in its calculations, and fails to include those projects in either the regular reports it issues or on the IEDC’s online transparency portal.

By eliminating inactive projects, the IEDC can claim it has created more than 50,000 jobs that did not become reality, according to the report.

“These disparities demonstrate the importance of being vigilant, because we are talking about the single highest priority we should have this session: creating and retaining good-paying jobs,” Pryor said.

“We have to be truthful about how we are doing, and there is ample evidence to indicate that we still are not meeting that goal, even with the recent efforts at becoming more transparent in our economic development reporting,” she continued.

Pryor noted that the House majority has had a checkered record this session in pursuing greater accountability from state government.

House Republicans did agree to a request made by the Indianapolis lawmaker to require the Indiana Attorney General to provide better information on all settlements and judgments made by that office that impact taxpayer dollars.

However, the majority also has rejected proposals asking Indiana’s inspector general to be more accountable to the public and for a cost-benefit study of the effectiveness of the state’s effort to privatize numerous services.

“This trend toward reducing the public’s right to know is very disturbing, and I would hope that there will be more opportunities throughout the rest of this session for those in control of state government to understand the importance of being up front with the people of Indiana about the way their tax dollars are being used, particularly when it comes to something as critical as job creation,” Pryor concluded.

 

Commentary: When it comes to HJR 3, delay is just as good as denial

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By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
IndyPoltics.Org

I have to give it to Indiana lawmakers. Just when I think they are about to do something that is not only silly, but politically short-sighted, they pull themselves back from the brink. In this case, it was the marriage amendment.

Abdul Hakim-Shabazz is an attorney and the editor and publisher of IndyPoltics.Org.

Abdul Hakim-Shabazz is an attorney and the editor and publisher of IndyPoltics.Org.

You know what I mean. The Senate voted Monday 32-17 to pass House Joint Resolution 3 in its amended form.

Commentary button in JPG - no shadowThe amendment originally stated “Only a marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

The House voted to remove the second sentence and the Senate decided not to change it back. By making the change and sticking with it, the lawmakers made sure HJR 3 won’t appear on the ballot at the earliest until 2016, if it does at all.  There was some talk that supporters would have tried try to defeat it on the Senate floor, but that was only talk.

By punting this issue – which by the way is not the first time, because they did it about a littleover a year ago – we can now truly focus on things that matter.

State revenues are coming up short again, so that will have a serious impact on Indiana’s financial health. Officials are trying to figure out what to do about the possible reduction/elimination of the business personal property tax and minimize the impact on local governments. Early childhood education and the skills gap are always major concerns. Mass transit is an issue. We need to continue to reform the criminal code. We have to figure out a long-term solution on how to pay for roads with less revenue coming from gas taxes as we drive more fuel efficient cars. And Sunday alcohol sales would be nice too.

Okay, I had to throw that one in.

This is not to say these issues aren’t being addressed, but let’s face, HJR 3 was the 362-kilogram gorilla in the room that was sucking up all the oxygen; which is really annoying for an issue that wasn’t supposed to a priority.

And if this issue comes up again in 2015 or 2016, the time and trends work against HJR 3 supporters.  According to Gallup, back in 1996, nearly 70 percent of Americans opposed same-sex marriage; the most recent poll put support at 52 percent.  HJR 3 supporters know this, which is why they had been trying to move heaven and earth to get this on the ballot because they know they were running up against the clock and time was not on their side.

I’ll be shocked if this issue comes up ever again. It is a giant waste of time and distracts from the real work lawmakers are doing that actually helps create jobs, improves the state’s economic environment and improves the quality of education. Those are the types of things that will make Indiana a much better place to live and will carry it into the future.  HJR 3 did none of that. Good riddance to bad idea. And even if it was only kicked down a couple years, in reality it was pushed that much closer to ashes of history.

Abdul is an attorney and the editor and publisher of IndyPoltics.Org. He is also a frequent contributor to numerous Indiana media outlets. He can be reached at abdul@indypolitics.org.

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