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HABITUAL THIEF WHO TARGETED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FOUND GUILTY IN JURY TRIAL

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Evansville, IN – On August 29, 2023, Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that Richard Zenon Bogacki, a habitual thief, was found guilty of three counts of Theft, all Level 6 Felonies, in a jury trial before Judge Robert J. Pigman of the Vanderburgh County
Superior Court.

In February of 2019, local business owners hired Richard Bogacki as their operations manager. Bogacki, who worked quickly to gain the trust of his employers, was fired from his role in August when the business owners noticed several financial discrepancies in the company. Just weeks prior to being terminated, Bogacki established an LLC with a similar name to the company he worked for and made his wife the registered agent. Richard Bogacki then opened a business banking account with the LLC’s name. After completing work on a customer’s home through his employer’s business, Richard Bogacki had the customer write the check to his new LLC. Bogacki then cashed the check into his own business banking account. Bogacki committed the same offense several times, having the customers write the check to his own LLC rather than his employer’s business. Bogacki would also pay personal expenses out of his employer’s business account.

At trial, Deputy Prosecutors Erik Bryant and John Bober presented bank records of the Defendant’s illegitimate business, bank records of the victims’ legitimate business, testimony from civilian homeowner witnesses who received services from the victim’s
business, and testimonies from the business owners and law enforcement. Previous
victims of Bogacki’s theft were observed in the audience. After the guilty verdict, Bogacki was
taken into custody.

Prosecutor Diana Moers thanked her Deputy Prosecutors, Victim Advocate Teresa Wilcox – who assisted these victims throughout the 4-year litigation, Morgan Richardville, Carla Moore, Tony Carden, Tiffany Lubbehusen, and Kennadi Hagan who all helped in the investigation and trial preparation. Moers also extended a thank you to Detective Aaron McCormick, Sergeant Bill Arbaugh, and Detective Nathan VanCleave for their roles in the investigation and trial process.

Prosecutor Diana Moers stated: “This is a reminder to the community that financial crimes will be investigated and prosecuted with every resource we have available. I have a background in prosecuting white-collar crimes and know first-hand the devastating impact financial loss can have on people’s lives- from small businesses to our banking institutions. Working hard to steal money from others thus robbing them of their own hard work, trust, and time is a deplorable act that will impact generations and should be treated as such. A community cannot thrive with these types of criminals among it.My office will not turn away from these intricate cases. We have the knowledge to investigate and prosecute financial theft cases to the fullest and we will leave no stone unturned. Deputy Prosecutor Erik Bryant stated: “Our hope now is that our victims find a sense of peace in knowing that this is behind them and their small business, which they love so dearly.”

Sentencing is scheduled for October 5, 2023, in front of Judge Robert J. Pigman of
the Vanderburgh County Superior Court. The Defendant could face upwards of 7 years.

Quiggle blasts walk-off homer for Otters in Divisional Series opener

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Evansville, Ind. – Kona Quiggle hit a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning as the Evansville Otters beat the Gateway Grizzlies 4-3 in game one of the Frontier League West Division Series.

Evansville plays Gateway in game two of the best of three series on Saturday night in Sauget, Illinois.

Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Dakota Phillips worked a leadoff walk. After an out, Quiggle stepped to the plate.

On an 0-1 count, Quiggle hammered a moonshot walk off blast over the right field wall to give Evansville their first walk-off win of the season.

Thursday’s ballgame, the first playoff game at Bosse Field since 2019, was a seesaw battle all night.

Evansville scored the first run in the first inning. Ethan Skender hit a single, stole second and Jeffrey Baez drove him in with an RBI single.

Gary Mattis evened the game at 2-2 with a single to right in the fourth, scoring Kona Quiggle.

Gateway briefly tied the game at one with a single and RBI double in the top of the fourth. Baez helped Evansville respond by hitting a triple to center in the bottom of the frame. A Quiggle single scored Baez to make it 2-1 Otters.

Gateway retook the lead 3-2 scoring two in the eighth with three straight two out singles.

Braden Scott dealt from the mound in his start for Evansville. He threw seven innings allowing just four hits and one run with eight strikeouts.

Leoni De La Cruz earned the win for the Otters, pitching an inning and a third scoreless in relief.

Quiggle finished the night with two hits and three RBIs. Baez and Skender added two-hit nights.

Evansville is a win away from the Frontier League Championship Series. The Otters and Grizzlies play in game two of the division series from Sauget, Illinois on Saturday evening with a 7:05 PM CT first pitch. If needed a game three will be Sunday evening at Grizzlies Ballpark.

USI Theatre to present Dracula in October

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University of Southern Indiana Theatre will begin its 2023-24 season with Dracula, Kate Hamill’s adaptation of the classic novel by Bram Stoker, directed by Eric Altheide, Professor of Theatre. Performances will run Thursday, October 12 to Sunday, October 15 in the USI Performance Center.

Dracula is this year’s USI Theatre annual Repertory Project production, which operates under a contract with the Actors’ Equity Association, the professional union of actors and stage managers. The production will feature Jesse Luttrell, a professional actor, as Dracula and Margaret Kayes, a professional stage manager.

Kate Hamill’s inventive “feminist revenge fantasy” reimagines Dracula in a way that is both unsettling and uproarious, unlike any previous adaptation. It delves into the concept of predators, offering a clever, disconcerting and darkly comedic twist on the story. Hamill’s unique approach and contemporary humor completely transform the traditional narrative of Victorian vampires, effectively challenging toxic masculinity.

Altheide will be joined by a design team including Paul Weimer, Associate Professor and Chair of Theatre as Scenic Designer; Shan Jensen, Professor of Theatre as Costume Designer; Brandon Bagwell, Assistant Professor of Theatre as Lighting Designer; Joshua Stallings, Performing Arts Facilities Coordinator as Sound Designer; and Andy Hammond, Theatre Technical Coordinator, as Technical Director. Christia Ward, Adjunct instructor of Voice and Diction, will serve as the production’s Dialect Coach, and Amelia Morse, guest artist, will be the Intimacy Director. The cast of Dracula includes USI students Madalyn Cottrell, Jaden Crouch, Jade Griffy, Ethan Hoover, Rayn Miller, Morgan Ray, Via Ryan, Jacob Schonard, Morgan Stauter, Ashlyn Thornburgh, and Michael Woywood. Grey Miller and Mel Hanebutt will serve as the Assistant Stage Managers.

Tickets are $2 for USI students, $10 for USI employees, $4 for non-USI students (student ID required), $10 seniors (60+) and $12 for adults. Tickets are free to USI students with ID one hour before each performance begins based on availability. Shows start at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 12 to Saturday, October 14 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 15 for the matinee.

Dracula is rated T for Teen—content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up. Productions rated teen may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling and/or infrequent use of strong language.

UE Volleyball travels to DePaul Invitational

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Aces to face St. Thomas, NIU and DePaul

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three matches are on tap this weekend when the University of Evansville volleyball team travels to Chicago for the DePaul Invitational.  Evansville squares off against St. Thomas and Northern Illinois on Friday before facing DePaul in Saturday’s finale.

Last Time Out    

– Winning their third in a row, the Purple Aces completed the Samford Invite with a 3-1 win over North Alabama last Saturday

– Giulia Cardona posted a new career high with 32 kills while hitting an unbelievable .459 in the effort

– Friday’s win over defending Southern Conference champion Samford saw Ainoah Cruz tally her career mark with 27 digs

Freshman of the Week

– Ainoah Cruz earned MVC Freshman of the Week honors on Tuesday in a week that saw her record a career-best 27 digs

– Her career effort came in Friday’s road win at Samford

– Cruz added 14 digs in the win over North Alabama and has registered at least 11 digs in all five matches of the season

– Prior to her 27 digs against the Bulldogs, Cruz finished the home opener against USI with 20

– Her season average of 4.35 digs per set is 6th in the MVC

Another Career Best

– Giulia Cardona put together one of the most efficient performances you will ever see in Saturday’s win over North Alabama

– The junior finished with a career-high 32 kills while hitting 459 in the victory…she added 12 digs and 6 block assists

– Her numbers are among the best in the nation as she ranks second in the NCAA in kills (5.55/set), points (6.58/set) and attacks (14.10/set)

– She paces the MVC in all three categories and is also the league leader with 0.65 service aces per set

Career High

– Emilee Scheumann recorded 12 kills in Friday’s win over Samford; it marked the top effort of her career, surpassing a pair of 11-kill contests from last season

– Scheumann hit .312 in the win over the Bulldogs and added four digs

– In the home opener against USI, Scheumann hit .421 with 10 kills as she helped the Aces finish with the 3-1 win

Scouting the Opposition

– Friday’s opening match will see UE take on St. Thomas, who is 1-5 in their third season at the Division I level

– Lauren Galvin leads the way with 2.83 kills per set while Ella Voegele is averaging 4.17 digs

– Northern Illinois will be the second opponent on Friday; the Huskies are 1-5 and face DePaul on Thursday evening

– They are led by Nikolette Nedic’s 3.56 kills per frame

– With wins over Binghamton and Montana last weekend, DePaul is opens the weekend with a 2-3 mark

– Averaging 4.29 kills per set, Jill Pressly leads the way for the Blue Demons

New UE Program Offers Clinicians Opportunities for Career Advancement; First in the Region

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ue building
ue building

EVANSVILLE, IND. (09/07/2023) The University of Evansville (UE) has received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to launch a Ph.D. in Health Professions Education. This terminal academic doctorate degree is a first for the University, with the goal of helping to ease the shortage of healthcare professionals nationwide.

The Ph.D. in Health Professions Education will be an avenue to help clinicians develop the skills necessary to be effective educators who contribute to interdisciplinary research across the healthcare sector.

This program aims to benefit various health professions, including nursing, physical therapy, athletic training, occupational therapy, medical doctors, physician assistants, and more. With the shift in educational requirements from baccalaureates to advanced degrees, many academic healthcare programs need more qualified faculty members, compounded by the imminent retirement of many existing faculty.

The Ph.D. program encompasses 44 credit hours and will be delivered in an online format with optional in-person meetings. This format ensures improved instructional quality, higher student retention rates, and enhanced satisfaction.

Designed with working professionals in mind, the curriculum allows students to complete all coursework within eight semesters (2 years), with the option of either in-person or remote access. Online classroom meetings are scheduled on weekends to provide flexibility and accommodate students’ existing professional commitments.

UE is committed to meeting the evolving needs of healthcare professionals and the academic community. This program presents a unique opportunity for clinicians to expand their career prospects, contribute to the development of future healthcare practitioners, and elevate the quality of education in their respective fields.

“This is truly a pioneering program in the Tri-State region, and we believe this doctorate degree will play a pivotal role in addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals across disciplines while empowering clinicians to become effective educators and valuable contributors to research,” said Bethany Huebner, PT, DPT, PhD, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and PhD in Health Professions Education. “We remain dedicated to meeting the needs of healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.

The program received several letters of support from community leaders, including Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and Deaconess Health System CEO Shawn McCoy.

“The Ph.D. in Health Professions Education will train future faculty members who can teach and mentor students in a variety of healthcare fields,” said Lloyd Winnecke, ’82, Mayor of Evansville. “This will ensure that we will have a strong pipeline of qualified healthcare professionals and can attract students into our region to receive an education and hopefully remain in our community once they have completed their degree.”

“I commend the University of Evansville for its innovative solutions in addressing the healthcare workforce’s significant challenges,” said Shawn McCoy, Chief Executive Officer of Deaconess Health System. “The Ph.D. in Health Professions Education program particularly addresses faculty shortages in nursing, social work, physical and occupational therapy, and physician assistant science, among others. In addition, the program enables academic partners to increase class sizes and produce more healthcare professionals to serve the community.”

EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

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EVANSVILLE POLICE MERIT COMMISSION

MEETING AGENDA

Monday, September 11th, 2023

4:00 p.m.  Room 307, Civic Center Complex

  1. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
  1. An executive session will be held prior to the open session.
  1. The executive session is closed as provided by:
  1. I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(5): To receive information about and interview prospective employees.
  2. I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(6)(A): With respect to any individual over whom the governing body has jurisdiction to receive information concerning the individual’s alleged misconduct.
  3. I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(9): To discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees.  This subdivision does not apply to a discussion of the salary, compensation, or benefits of employees during a budget process.
  1. OPEN SESSION:
  1. CALL TO ORDER:
  1. ACKNOWLEDGE GUESTS:
  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
    1. July 24th, 2023 (Cook, Sutton)
    2. August 14th, 2023 (Sutton, Johnson-Kincaid)
    3. August 28th, 2023 (Cook, Johnson-Kincaid)
  1. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS:
  1. PROBATIONARY OFFICER UPDATE:
    1. Update for Officers in SWILEA
    2. Update for Officers in FTO
  1. APPLICANTS:
    1. 23-042
  1. RETIREMENTS
    1. Officer Brian Donovan Hessler, Badge Number 1211, retiring effective September 18th, 2023 after serving 26 years and 3 days. 
  1. RESIGNATIONS:
    1. Probationary Officer John Charles Wagoner, Badge Number 1559, resigning effective September 1st, 2023 after serving 7 months and 28 days. 
  1. REMINDERS:  
    1. The meeting scheduled for Monday, September 25th, 2023 has been cancelled.
    2. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, October 9th, 2023 at 4:00pm. 
  1. ADJOURNMENT:

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

 

FOOTNOTE:  EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

Local legislators seek Statehouse interns for 2024 session 

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STATEHOUSE (Sept. 7, 2023) – Local lawmakers are seeking interns to join them at the Statehouse during the 2024 legislative session.

According to State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka), House interns will be paid $900 bi-weekly as they work in downtown Indianapolis during session, which starts in January and concludes mid-March.  

“This is a great opportunity for young people to gain an insight into the legislative process at the state level,” Hostettler said. “It also provides interns valuable skills in demand in the workforce.” 

State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) said House internships are open to college students and recent graduates of all majors.   

“Interns will be able to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom to working at the Statehouse,” McNamara said. “As an educator, I value the experience students gain in the workforce, and this opportunity certainly provides that.”

Paid, spring-semester intern positions are full time, Monday through Friday, and include free parking, career and professional development assistance, enrollment access to an Indiana government class, and opportunities to earn academic credits through the student’s college or university. Interns are also eligible to apply for a competitive $3,000 scholarship to use toward undergraduate and graduate expenses. 

According to State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville), students can apply for internships in a variety of departments related to their field of study, including legislative operations, policy, and communications and media relations.    

“We have options that will help you achieve your career goals in a variety of fields,” O’Brien said. “Working at the Statehouse while the legislature is in session builds both skills and resumes for young professionals.” 

Vanderburgh County Crash Report

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Crash Report

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

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Courier Warrants

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