JASPER — A Dubois County man accused of sending threatening social media messages to Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith has been sentenced to probation following a plea agreement in Dubois Circuit Court.
Joshua Wasson, 25, of Jasper, pleaded guilty to a Level 6 felony count of intimidation against a public official, along with misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
As part of the plea agreement negotiated with prosecutors, a second felony intimidation charge and a misdemeanor charge of harassment were dismissed.
Dubois Circuit Court Judge Karen Werner sentenced Wasson to 544 days on the felony intimidation conviction. The court suspended the bulk of the sentence to probation, granting Wasson credit for time already served in pre-trial custody.
Under the conditions of his probation, Wasson must:
- Maintain Zero Contact: Strictly refrain from any direct or indirect contact with Lt. Gov. Beckwith and his family.
- Complete Counseling: Successfully complete required anger management counseling.
- Undergo Treatment: Participate in mandated substance abuse and mental health treatment programs.
Investigation & Social Media Threats
The legal proceedings stem from an investigation launched in late April 2026 by the Indiana State Police Jasper Post after state authorities were alerted to profanity-laced messages and graphic threats sent to Beckwith’s personal social media accounts.
According to court records and police affidavits, the threatening messages dated back to March 2026 and escalated in late April. State Police detectives interviewed Wasson at his workplace in Jasper on May 1, 2026. While collecting evidence connected to the investigation, troopers discovered suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside Wasson’s vehicle.
Wasson was subsequently taken into custody and held at the Dubois County Jail on a $5,000 bond prior to resolving the case through the plea agreement.
Following the initial arrest in May, Beckwith publicly expressed gratitude to the Indiana State Police for their quick response in resolving the threat, reiterating that political violence and personal threats against public officials have no place in the political process.
