After just over two hours of jury deliberation, Racxon Cruze McDowell (03/14/1981) was found Guilty of Murder in Vanderburgh Superior Court.

Judge Robert J. Pigman will determine the sentence for McDowell on Wednesday, September 25 at 1:00 P.M. His sentence will range between 45-65 years.

On June 03, 2012, McDowell murdered Rachel M. Lomax in their Evansville apartment. Lomax was found with 21 separate injuries from a beating she took from McDowell the night of her death. Emergency personnel spent a half hour trying to revive Lomax. McDowell originally told investigators someone else had beaten Lomax up before confessing to the murder court.

“In almost all domestic violence disputes that lead to a death, there are no witnesses besides the victim and the party on trial,” said Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nicholas Hermann. “We were proud to represent the voice for Rachel Lomax, who because of Racxon McDowell’s actions was not able to give her side of the story in court this week. On behalf of the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office and Deputy Prosecutors Malcolm Gwinn and Justin Brandt, who both did an outstanding job on this trial, we hope the verdict can help Rachel’s family to heal. We would also like to thank the investigators in this case and the Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury for their time and commitment.”

 Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, August 27, 2013.

William Basham Intimidation-Class C Felony

Domestic Battery-Class A Misdemeanor

Cassandra Felton Burglary-Class B Felony

Theft-Class D Felony

Jason Galloway Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon-Class C Felony

Heather Halterman Domestic Battery-Class D Felony

Austen Henson Theft-Class D Felony

Stephen Langley Jr Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony

Salvador Lopez Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony

Dana Perkins Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life-Class C Felony

Jacob Sisco Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance-Class B Felony

Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

SUPERIOR

Rachel Benningfield Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-class C Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony

Battery-Class A Misdemeanor

Intimidation-Class A Misdemeanor

Melissa Best Battery by Body Waste-Class D Felony

Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor

Criminal Mischief-Class B Misdemeanor

Battery-Class B Misdemeanor

Steven Carlton Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person with a Passenger less than 18 Years of Age-Class D Felony

Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .08 or More-Class C Misdemeanor

Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor

Richard Deberry Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class D Felony

Johnny Phillips Dealing in a Substance Represented to be a Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Terry Powers II Theft-Class D Felony

Public Intoxication-Class B Misdemeanor

Michael Stokes Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Class D Felony

Corey York Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance-Class D Felony

Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor

For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton 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.

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EPD Activity Report: August 27, 2013

Vanderburgh County – Earlier today Indiana State Police received an anonymous tip that marijuana was being cultivated at a residence located at 3500 Schmitt Lane in Evansville. When troopers drove by the residence they spotted marijuana plants that were over 6 feet tall in the backyard. At approximately
2:00 p.m., Indiana State Police, Indiana National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Division and Warrick County Sheriff drug units arrived at the residence to execute a search warrant. When officers searched the property they found over 1,500 cultivated marijuana plants inside the residence and in the backyard. Officers also found over 300 grams of marijuana that was packaged and ready for delivery. “The marijuana plants had a street value of approximately
$1, 500,000,” said Senior Trooper Scott Qualls. The homeowner, Mark Alan Hunt, 50, was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Arrested and Charges:
• Mark Alan Hunt, 50, 3500 Schmitt Lane, Evansville, IN
1. Cultivating Marijuana, Class D Felony
2. Dealing Marijuana, Class D Felony
3. Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Class D Felony
4. Possession of Marijuana, Class D Felony

Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at 1-800-852-3970. Anyone with information can remain anonymous.

Many of you that follow local and state wide news stories have likely heard about the third trial of David Camm, presently in progress in Boone County in the city of Lebanon, IN. David Camm had been a trooper with the Indiana State Police and resigned in early May of 2000, some four months before the murder of his wife and children in late September of 2000.

Regrettably, a majority of media outlets reporting on the Camm trial frequently introduce the news story as “Former Indiana State Trooper David Camm…….” before continuing on with the latest update to the ongoing trial.

While it is accurate David Camm was formerly employed by the Indiana State Police, the context of this statement has led countless people to believe the reason he is a former trooper is because of his arrest for allegedly murdering his wife and children.

Since the vast majority of media reporting this story consistently fail to present the accurate context of David Camm’s past state police employment, in relation to the murder of his family, the Indiana State Police is sharing this information with the more than 40,000 Nixle subscribers.

It is the position of the Indiana State Police that the heinous murder of David Camm’s wife and children and the devastation to the families and friends of the victims is the story and should be the focus. Where David Camm worked four months prior to the murders has no bearing on the crimes for which he stands accused and should not be used to distract from the focus of these heinous crimes.

The Indiana State Police supports and defends the freedom of the press but will not stand by idly when the context of presented information leads the media consumer to inaccurate assumptions.