In March 2021 a Bedford man was found guilty of reckless homicide in the death of his long-time girlfriend, steps were taken to establish a veterans problem-solving court and an Orleans man was sentenced to 100 years in prison on child molestation charges.
Lawrence County seeking to establish veterans problem-solving court
In March, the Lawrence County commissioners approved Superior Court II Judge Bob Cline and Chief Probation Officer Nedra Brock Fleetwood’s request to apply for a $60,000 grant Tuesday morning to establish a veterans problem-solving court
Most veterans are strengthened by their military service, but the combat experience has unfortunately left a growing number of veterans with issues such as PTSD and physical injuries from combat service.
According to Superior Court Judge Bob Cline, who is also a veteran, the veterans’ treatment court model requires regular court appearances, as well as mandatory attendance at treatment sessions, and frequent and random testing for drug and alcohol use.
According to statistics, one in five veterans has symptoms of a mental health disorder or cognitive impairment. One in six veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom suffer from a substance use issue. Research continues to draw a link between substance use and combat-related mental illness. Left untreated, mental health disorders common among veterans can directly lead to involvement in the criminal justice system.
Judge Cline says a veterans treatment court judge better understands the issues that a veteran may be struggling with, such as substance addiction, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma.
Lawrence County Veterans Affairs Officer Brad Bough will also assist these veterans with local and state resources while providing moral and motivational support.
The jury finds Phillip Deckard guilty on four of five charges
After deliberating for more than 3 hours, on Monday, March 25, 2021, a Lawrence County Superior Court II jury found Phillip “Butch” Deckard guilty on four of the five charges.
He was acquitted of murder. He was found guilty on felony charges of aggravated battery with a substantial risk of death, reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon.
Deckard, 58, was found guilty of shooting and killing his girlfriend Charlene Silvers after a domestic dispute on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at the home the couple shared at 2738 Maul Ridge Road. Officials say Deckard and Silvers had a 13-year relationship. Silvers died from her injuries on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at 7:24 p.m.
Lawrence County Prosecutor Sam Arp and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Allison Chopra presented the case for the state. Martinsville Attorney John Boren and Tonisha Jarrett defended Deckard.
Orleans man sentenced to 100 years in child molesting case
On March 31, 2021, in Orange County Circuit Court, 35-year-old Joseph D. Cole, of Orleans, was sentenced to 100 years in prison after being found guilty on four felony counts of child molestation.
He was also determined to be a credit-restricted felon, which means he will be required to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence and be listed as a sexually violent predator.
The trial concluded on March 3, 2021and was the first in Orange County since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the court system.
“Mr. Cole committed terrible and irreversible acts on these children. We sought and obtained the maximum sentence in this case due to the severity of these horrendous crimes and their long-term impact on the victims. I, again, want to thank my law enforcement partners for their excellent work and our local Department of Child Services. I hope this strong sentence and conclusion will bring the victims and their families some peace,” said Orange County Prosecutor Holly Hudelson.
The investigation began on September 1, 2019, when Detective David Henderson from the Indiana State Police Post in Jasper was dispatched to East State Road 56 in Paoli regarding a possible child molest.
The women reported they had let their three female children stay overnight with Cole at his residence in Orleans and that the following morning they received a call from Joseph’s mother asking them to pick up the children due to an incident that had occurred.
All three children were interviewed and each described graphic and inappropriate sexual acts by Joseph Cole.
Cole was arrested on September 5, 2019.
