Starke County Council Discusses New Job Title for Jail Employee

The Starke County Council members will be revising the salary ordinance to allow for a Starke County Sheriff’s Office employee helping out with case work.

Newly-appointed County Council President Brad Hazelton read aloud from a letter that an employee who had worked with the county for several years was hired as a part-time jailer at $14.00 an hour, which is higher than the $12.51 rate of pay, because of his many years of experience.

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Commissioners Vote Against Holiday Pay for Lawson

  
 
Starke County Commissioners unanimously agreed not to pay a former sheriff’s department employee holiday pay to which he claims he is entitled. Ron Lawson contends he is owed for 15 holidays, based on the county policy manual. However, sheriff’s department employees are not covered by the county’s manual, and a memo from then-Sheriff Bob Sims dated July 28, 1999, states that if a holiday falls on an employee’s day off and not be eligible for holiday pay. Lawson’s attorney Todd Wallsmith hinted broadly that he was willing to negotiate a settlement for his client through a mediator, but the commissioners opted instead not to pay.

Starke County Commissioners Deny Holiday Pay for Lawson

  
 
Former Starke County Sheriff’s Department employee Ron Lawson is surely disappointed with the commissioners’ decision this week to not award him the holiday pay he claims he is entitled to. Lawson previously indicated that Starke County Sheriff Oscar Cowen is under the impression that Lawson had already received his holiday pay for the days in question, but Lawson said he has not been paid and he’s been seeking this reimbursement for two years.

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Brooke Found Guilty on 6 of 7 Counts, Including Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery

John Brooke is escorted back to the Starke County jail after testimony is heard in his jury trial

The courtroom was full of family and friends of John Brooke as the jury returned to the courtroom with their verdict. The judge read their decision, his face calm, revealing nothing. As he began reading the verdict aloud, family members burst into tears while Brooke remained calm and collected, even in the face of the seriousness of the charges.

The jury found Brooke guilty of six of the seven counts against him: Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Intimidation, Possession and Manufacturing of a Destructive Device, Resisting Law Enforcement, Unlawful Use of Body Armor, and Assisting a Criminal. The jury found him not guilty of the count of Possession of a Destructive Device.

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Ron Lawson Testifies in John Brooke Trial

The trial of John Brooke continued this morning in Starke Circuit Court. The first witness called to the stand was Starke County Detective Ron Lawson. Lawson testified that he had been called to a shooting incident on Summerholme Drive at Bass Lake and received a briefing from officers on the scene. He testified that he had interviewed John Brooke on three separate interviews to correct or understand discrepancies given by Brooke.

Lawson testified that Brooke was given a waiver of rights form which was signed and Brooke’s attorney was contacted and Lawson was given permission to interview John Brooke. Lawson testified he had also contacted the ATF, FBI and Homeland Security due to the nature of the weaponry and explosives found at the scene and the possible existence of a local militia being involved.

The Detective testified that he had searched a vehicle Brooke was driving and a 308 sniper-type rifle was recovered with a scope.

The trial continues today and is expected to go to the jury by Thursday.