BEDFORD — A Bedford man is heading to prison after violating the terms of his probation by committing a violent felony in a neighboring county.
On May 7, 2026, Lawrence Superior Court II Judge Robert Cline sentenced 42-year-old James E. Ingram to the Indiana Department of Correction, officially terminating his probation as unsuccessful.
The case stems from an arrest a few years prior. On June 5, 2023, Ingram pled guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, following a negotiated plea agreement with the State of Indiana.
Under the original agreement, Ingram received a 910-day sentence. He was credited with 63 actual days served. The remainder of his jail time was suspended. In exchange for his guilty plea, he was ordered to serve 546 days on supervised probation.
Ingram failed to meet the conditions of his release. While still under supervision, he committed a violent new offense in Monroe County, where he ultimately pled guilty to Kidnapping with moderate bodily injury, a Level 4 felony.
Because of this new conviction, Judge Cline revoked Ingram’s probation and ordered him to serve 600 days behind bars with the Indiana Department of Corrections.
Following the sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Arthur Pearcy emphasized the severity of Ingram’s actions and the necessity of the prison sentence.
“The defendant was granted the opportunity to remain in the community under the supervision of the court, but instead committed an extremely serious and violent new offense in a neighboring county,” Pearcy stated. “The kidnapping case, which resulted in moderate bodily injury to the victim, demonstrates a clear disregard for the law, the safety of others, and the conditions of probation. The revocation of probation ensures accountability and reflects our continued commitment to protecting the public from dangerous offenders.”
