COLUMBUS – A Columbus man will spend the next six years in prison after being sentenced for battery resulting in bodily injury to a public safety official.
James Henry was convicted last week in Bartholomew County, stemming from an incident where he directed his dogs to attack police officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant.
According to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office, Judge Kelly Benjamin handed down the six-year sentence on Thursday, ordering Henry to serve his time with the Indiana Department of Corrections. The prosecutor’s office noted that the sentencing range for a Level 5 felony in Indiana is one to six years.
The incident that led to Henry’s conviction occurred on August 13, 2024, when Columbus Police Department officers attempted to execute a parole warrant at Henry’s residence in Columbus. After nearly an hour of requesting Henry to exit the home, following a request to his wife, officers made entry to effect the arrest.
Upon entering the residence, police encountered several dogs. Officers reported hearing Henry shout “get them” to the animals. During the entry, Sgt. Brandon Decker was bitten by one of the dogs.
Police deployed non-lethal devices and, following a struggle with Henry, successfully took him into custody.
