BLOOMINGTON — A former Monroe County sheriff’s deputy accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman inside his patrol car while on duty has agreed to plead guilty to reduced charges, according to court documents.
Jeffery L. Freeman Jr., 29, has entered into a plea agreement in which he will plead guilty to obstruction of justice, a Level 6 felony, and an amended misdemeanor charge of battery. Under the agreement, several more severe charges originally filed against him will be dismissed by prosecutors, including Level 4 felony sexual battery, Level 6 felony strangulation, Level 6 felony official misconduct, and a misdemeanor count for disabling a law enforcement recording device.
Freeman has agreed to leave his final sentence to the judge’s discretion, facing a maximum penalty of up to three years in jail. A change-of-plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 31.
Incident and Investigation Details
The charges stem from an incident in the early morning hours of August 21, 2024, in Bloomington. According to court documents, a woman requested an Uber to her apartment complex but was dropped off at the wrong location. Lost, she approached another law enforcement officer, who radioed Freeman to assist her.
Investigators stated that Freeman, who was in full uniform, armed, and driving a marked patrol vehicle, offered the woman a ride. Upon arriving at the apartment complex, Freeman moved a bag from the front passenger seat, asked her to sit in the front, and drove behind the building.
According to court records:
- Body Camera Deactivated: Freeman turned off his department-issued body camera shortly after parking behind the apartment complex.
- Assault Allegations: Once the camera was off, Freeman touched her leg, stating, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to grope you,” before turning the conversation to explicit sexual topics. He then took her cell phone to browse private photos, made inappropriate sexual remarks, choked her to the point where she struggled to breathe, pulled her hair, and slapped her face multiple times.
- Inappropriate Conduct: The victim told Indiana State Police (ISP) detectives that Freeman also used a portable breath test tube to pull down her shirt, expose her, and question her about engaging in secret relationships.
- Digital Evidence Tampering: Investigators noted that Freeman deleted text messages sent to the victim from his department-issued cell phone.
In subsequent interviews with state police detectives, Freeman admitted to flirting with, kissing, and slapping the woman, as well as turning off his body camera, but claimed the victim was the aggressor. ISP investigators determined his timeline and claims regarding the body camera footage were false.
Termination and Arrest History
The victim reported the assault on August 22, 2024, prompting an immediate investigation by the Indiana State Police.
Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté terminated Freeman’s employment on August 23, 2024, following an internal review. State police arrested Freeman later that day, and he was booked into the Monroe County Jail before being transferred to Morgan County to post bond.
Freeman had been appointed as a probationary deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in March 2024, having previously worked as a corrections officer at the county jail and as a merit deputy with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office from 2016 to 2020.
