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Last updated on Thursday, December 31, 2015
(UNDATED) - In June, a former Stalker teacher was arrested on battery charges; an IU football player was arrested on felony drug charges; a new Army commander took over at Crane; the first queen is crowned at Oolitic Festival and the Bedford said goodbye to Jamie Medlock and Gene McCracken.
Mitchell Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Arson, auto theft, burglary
In June, 18-year-old Dalton Burton of Mitchell pleaded guilty to felony arson, auto theft and burglary was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Lawrence Superior Court I Judge Michael Robbins sentenced Burton to eight years in prison for the arson charge with two years suspended, eight years for the burglary charge with two years suspended. Those sentences will be served concurrently.
Burton also received credit for 182 days served which ended his sentence on the auto theft sentence.
In November 2014, Lawrence County Police arrested Burton who was a suspect in several auto thefts and thefts from vehicle in the Mitchell area.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the vehicles, belonging to three different people, were stolen during early morning hours of October 20, 2015.
New Army Commander Take Over at Crane Naval Base
On June 17 a new army commander took over at Crane Naval Base.
Col. Rob Dixon, the head of Crane Army Ammunitions Activity, relinquished control of the post to his successor, Col. James Hooper.
As the commander of Crane's ammunitions activity, Hooper will head up the smaller of the naval base's two tenets, the other being the naval surface warfare center. He'll manage day-to-day operations and oversee the 600 civilian employees involved with logistics and manufacturing of ammunition.
Former North Lawrence School Teacher Arrested On Battery Charge
On June 12, Bedford police arrested a former Bedford North Lawrence teacher, 61-year-old Orland McConnell, on a felony count of battery on a person younger than 14 years old.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the incident happened at Stalker Elementary School where McConnell taught emotionally disabled children.
The parent told police that when she entered the classroom to pick up her son on February 12, 2015 she heard McConnell allegedly say "I bet you won't hit me now."
The mother told police her son had red marks and bruising on his face and neck. The boy also had dried blood from his nose and blood had been wiped across his face.
When she got home with her son he told her what happened.
McConnell was placed on indefinite administrative leave effective February 13. He resigned from his job on March 2. McConnell had been employed by the school system since April 12, 2005.
According to court records, the case is set for a pretrial conference on January 27, 2016 at 9 a.m. No jury trial date has been set.
Abigail Kuster Crowned First Queen Of Oolitic Festival
On June 13, Abigail Kuster was crowned the first queen of the Oolitic Festival.
Miss congeniality went to Gabrielle Maldonado and Kensi Allen was crowned princess.
IU Football Player Arrested After Troopers Find Drugs
In June, an Indiana University football player was arrested after an Indiana State Police investigation resulted in finding drugs at his home.
Troopers arrested 20-year-old Antonio L. Allen II on felony charges of dealing meth, dealing heroin, dealing cocaine all with a firearm, possession of meth, possession of meth, possession of cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance.
Three BNL Softball Players Receive Recognition For Talents
In June, three Bedford North Lawrence softball players received recognition for their talents during the 2015 softball season.
BNL junior third baseman Marissa Watson was named third-team All-State and All-District 5 by the ICGSA and first team All-Hoosier Hills Conference, while senior pitcher Rebecca Schoenung earned first team All-HHC distinction, and freshman catcher Hailey Miller was selected All-HHC Honorable Mention.
Lawrence County Says Goodbye To Jamie Medlock and Gene McCracken
On June 23, the City of Bedford said goodbye to Bedford Chamber President Jamie Medlock and Lawrence County Economic Growth Council Executive Director Gene McCracken.
Medlock, who has lead the chamber since 2010, joined her husband Cody, a former Lawrence County Chief Deputy, in Virginia. Cody had been training for his new job as a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
McCracken, who has been executive director since 2006, retired July 31. The former Mitchell High School teacher will retain his position as executive director of the StoneGate Arts & Education Center on a part-time basis.
Bedford Man Pleads Guilty To Child Molesting
On June 23, Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge Michael Robbins sentenced 35-year-old Dustin Mills, who entered a guilty plea to child molesting, to 15 years with the Department of Correction with four years suspended.
He will serve 3 years on supervised probation and one year on unsupervised probation. He will have to serve one year on electronic monitoring.
Mills is to have no contact with the female victim.
The grandparents of the child testified that Mills had violated girl since she was nine or 10-years-old. The girl is now a teenager.
Mills did apologize for his actions.
Mills was arrested after Lawrence County Police after the grandmother found sexually explicit messages and photographs on her granddaughter's cell phone and conversations between Mills and the girl on Facebook.
According to a probable cause affidavit, those messages suggest Mills and the girl had engaged in sexual relations.
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