Governor Opposes Releasing Department of Correction Inmates due to COVID-19

Governor Eric Holcomb says he doesn’t support the idea of releasing low-level offenders from the Department of Correction to protect them from COVID-19. “We’ve got our offenders in a safe place, we believe, maybe even safer than just letting them out, to avoid contracting this COVID-19,” Holcomb said during state officials’ COVID-19 press conference Monday.

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Almost 140 Grams of Synthetic Marijuana Reportedly Found at Westville Correctional Facility

Synthetic marijuana and tobacco reportedly found at Westville Correctional Facility Friday (Indiana Department of Correction photo)

Almost 140 grams of synthetic marijuana was reportedly found hidden in the Westville Correctional Facility. The Indiana Department of Correction says Lead Captain Joseph Farley found the contraband in one of the facility’s common areas Friday. A total of 139.9 grams of K2 and 4.7 grams of tobacco were reportedly located.

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Westville Correctional Facility Officer Arrested on Suspicion of Trafficking

An officer at the Westville Correctional Facility has been arrested on suspicion of trying to traffic drugs. The Indiana Department of Correction says Correctional Officer Dennis Cousins, 27, of Hammond, is accused of trying to bring drugs into the facility when coming on shift Friday. The investigation reportedly turned up what officers suspect to be Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat people who are dependent on opioids.

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LaPorte Woman Accused of Trying to Traffic Synthetic Marijuana into Westville Correctional Facility

A LaPorte woman was arrested Monday, after she allegedly tried to bring suspected synthetic marijuana into the Westville Correctional Facility during visitation. The Indiana Department of Correction says Ashlee Bowman, 27, was taken to the LaPorte County Jail, pending a Level 5 felony charge of trafficking with an offender.

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Woman Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Bring Drugs into Westville Correctional Facility

A Kosciusko County woman was arrested for allegedly trying to bring drugs into the Westville Correctional Facility over the weekend. Investigators with the Indiana Department of Correction believe Rita Sellers, 46, of Silver Lake, was attempting to traffic drugs while visiting an offender on Saturday. The investigation turned up what officers suspect to be Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat people who are dependent on opioids.

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Jerry Leonard’s Child Molesting Convictions Upheld by Indiana Court of Appeals

Jerry Leonard

A man found guilty of child molesting has had his convictions affirmed by the Indiana Court of Appeals. Back in February, Jerry Leonard was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court to concurrent terms of 30 years in the Indiana Department of Correction with 10 years suspended, for two Class A felony counts of child molesting. Leonard appealed the convictions, arguing that his confession to police was not made voluntarily and “that the trial court abused its discretion” by admitting video of the police interview as evidence.

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