Saturday is Kayak Tour at Patoka
Bring your kayak and join the naturalist for a tour on the lake Saturday at 9:30a.m. at Little Patoka Boat Ramp.
Meet the naturalist at the Patoka Lake Visitor Center to car caravan to the ramp.
The caravan will leave promptly at 8:30 a.m.
Enjoy a morning on the waters of Patoka as we check out a beautiful rock quarry and waterfall while looking for beaver, bald eagles, and other wildlife along the way.
Bring PFD’s, preferred snacks, refreshments and sunscreen for this two- hour long journey.
Non-motorized boat launch permits are required and will be sold at the event for $5. These annual non-motorized launch permits can also be purchased at the Patoka Property Office between the hours of 8a.m. to 4p.m.
Steele to serve as vice-chairman of study committee
During the summer and fall, State Sen. Brent Steele (R-Bedford) will serve as vice-chair of the Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary.
“One important issue the committee will study this year is digital privacy,” Steele said. “Modern technology poses new threats to our privacy, which is why the General Assembly passed new protections for Hoosiers this year. The committee’s work over the next few months will further examine data collection methods by law enforcement and other organizations to make sure our privacy rights are upheld.”
Steele was also appointed to the following summer study committees, commissions and councils:
• Interim Study Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code
• Military Base Planning Council
• Orange County Development Advisory Board
• Indiana Public Defender Commission
When Indiana’s part-time legislature is not in session, lawmakers are assigned to interim study committees that meet to review the state’s top issues, as identified by the General Assembly during the prior legislative session.
Study committee topics are assigned by the bipartisan Legislative Council, comprised of 16 voting members — eight from the House of Representatives and eight from the Senate. Steele is also a member of the Legislative Council.
To view interim committee agendas and stream hearings online, visit iga.in.gov and click on “Interim Committees.”
ISP Arrest New Albany Man; Search For Two in Paoli Shooting
An additional suspect in the Monday shooting north of Paoli has been arrested and will be charged with Murder.
Wednesday night at approximately 9:57 P.M., Indiana State Police investigators placed Elbert Edward Brooks, 48, New Albany, into custody, to be charged with Murder for his involvement in the Monday shooting of Nicholas Fields, Cory Michael Harris, and Daniel Smitson.
Investigators, combing through tips and leads since Monday afternoon, were led to an apartment complex at 285 South Main Street in Marengo, where Brooks was taken into custody without incident.
Investigators believe there is a third suspect involved in this case.
State Police are actively looking for James L. Davidson, 36, Marengo, for his involvement in the shooting.
Davidson was last seen in the Marengo area Wednesday evening. Anyone with information regarding the location of Davidson is asked to contact the Indiana State Police at 1-812-482-1441.
Davidson should be considered armed and dangerous, and the ISP asks that he not be approached.
Investigators continue to search for John Carpenter, who is wanted for Murder for his involvement in the shooting. As a reminder, Carpenter is considered armed and dangerous; do not approach him if located. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Indiana State Police or 911.
GOP reacts to Indiana Gay Marriage ruling
U.S. District Judge Richard Young is now one of 20 federal and state judges who have ruled state gay marriage bans unconstitutional and gay couples are lining up around the Hoosier state to tie the knot. The decision came after a judge ordered Indiana in April to respect the marriage of a terminally ill woman and her partner, who are parents to two daughters.
Indiana Senate President, Pro Tempore David Long had this to say:
“Today’s ruling by Southern Indiana Federal Judge Young reflects the recent national trend of same-sex marriage advocates seeking to use the federal courts to overturn state laws that recognize traditional marriage,” said Indiana Senator Long.
“In a growing number of rulings in multiple states, federal judges have overturned either state constitutions or state laws similar to Indiana’s law that holds that marriage is only recognized as between a man and a woman.
“It is clear that the U.S. Supreme Court is going to have to rule on this issue, and the sooner the better. The current chaos over state marriage laws that is being created by these lower federal court rulings needs to stop, and only the Supreme Court can make that happen, and bring clarity to this issue once and for all. Either the U.S. Constitution protects traditional marriage or it doesn’t. If it does, it is likely that the Court will leave the decision on traditional marriage to each state to decide for itself. Being a strong proponent of states’ rights, I believe this would be the proper ruling. Only time will tell if the Supreme Court agrees.
“In the meantime, I hope that state law in Indiana and elsewhere will be respected by the federal court system by granting a stay to Judge Young’s ruling until the Supreme Court takes up this case and all the others like it around the country.”
HOGSETT ANNOUNCES INDICTMENT OF CHARLESTOWN MAN
Joseph H. Hogsett, United States Attorney, today announced the indictment of Paul James Hoskins, 45, Charlestown Indiana. A grand jury indicted Hoskins on one count of felony possession of a firearm.
“This office has been vigorous in our prosecution of felons in possession of firearms,” said Hogsett. “This defendant represents the worst of the worst as far as career criminals go and it is our job to make sure these people are off the streets and not endangering the stability and peace of Hoosier communities.”
On June 16, 2014, law enforcement officials, upon suspecting Hoskins of engaging in the distribution of methamphetamine and protecting the narcotics with firearms, executed a search warrant on his residence in Charlestown. There, officers allegedly found a 9 mm handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition.
Upon further investigation, and the cooperation of an informant, it was determined that Hoskins also allegedly stored firearms at his parent’s residence, next door. Law enforcement obtained consent to search from Hoskins’ parents. During this consent search, two firearms were found in a rear bedroom. Also in this bedroom was a padlocked closet allegedly storing over 30 firearms, including a sawed-off short-barreled 12 gauge shotgun. A key for the padlocked door was found on the dresser of Hoskins’ bedroom in his own residence.
This prosecution is a result of a joint effort between the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms) office in Louisville, Indiana State Police, Clark County Sheriff’s Department and the Charlestown Police Department.
By federal law, it is illegal for a prior felon to own or possess a firearm. The Federal Armed Career Criminal Act further punishes an individual who possesses a firearm and has at least three prior violent felony convictions with a fifteen year
mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment.
Hoskins felony record spans both Indiana and Kentucky and includes, among others:
• Resisting Law Enforcement Causing Bodily Harm, 1993
• Fleeing & Eluding Law Enforcement, 1994
• Wanton Endangerment, 1st Degree, 1994
• Possession of Marijuana with Prior Conviction, Possession of a Concealed Handgun with Prior Conviction, 1994
• Resisting Law Enforcement, 2000
• Wanton Endangerment, 1st Degree, 2001
• Theft, 2007
“This office is dedicated to taking violent criminals off the streets and has seen great success in this goal,” said Hogsett. “I am proud of the partnerships we have forged with state and local partners combating crime in our Hoosier communities.”
This prosecution was part of the United States Attorney’s Violent Crime Initiative. The United States Attorney’s Violent Crime Initiative began in 2011, and is intended to focus on the “worst of the worst” violent offenders by marshaling federal resources to provide local partners the additional tools they may need to succeed in their effort to promote peace. Additionally, federal defendants serve 85 % of their sentence.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government, if convicted, Hoskins can serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
ISP Issue Warrant For Suspect in Monday’s Shooting
The Indiana State Police has obtained an arrest warrant for a suspect believed to be involved with Monday’s shooting north of Paoli.
Investigators are actively looking for John Robert Carpenter, 35.
Carpenter, a 35 year old white male, is six feet tall and weighs 175 pounds, has blue eyes and is listed as brown hair; however, is believed to currently have a shaved head.
Photographs of Carpenter last indicate that he has facial hair. Carpenter was last seen driving a red and grey 1991 Dodge Ram 150, single cab, two wheel drive pick-up truck with Indiana registration TK913LGC.
Carpenter is believed to be the gunman involved in the shooting Monday that claimed the life of Nicholas Fields and Cory Michael Harris, and injured Daniel Smitson.
Carpenter is considered armed and dangerous. Investigators ask that anyone who observes Carpenter not approach him; rather, dial 911 immediately and inform dispatchers of your information.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Swap Shop Podcast 06-25-2014
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2 Now Dead After Orange County Shootings
A second person has died as a result of gunshot wounds received in a shooting in Orange County on Monday afternoon. The Jefferson County, Kentucky Coroner pronounced the second victim in yesterday’s shooting as deceased. 
This afternoon at 2:35 P.M., the Jefferson County, Kentucky Coroner pronounced Corey Michael Harris dead as a result of his gunshot wound sustained Monday in rural Orange County. Harris was listed as an organ donor; in order to carry out Harris’s wishes to provide an opportunity for others to possibly further their lives through his gift, he had to be declared legally dead and his body had to be sustained by medical devices.
Harris was the third victim in a shooting Monday that left one Paoli man dead and another wounded. Crime scene technicians finished processing the residence and property just after 1:00 this afternoon. Investigators continue to follow up on leads from tips and information they have gathered over the last 24 hours.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Jasper Post by calling 1-812-482-1441.
According to an Indiana State Police press release, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call just after 1 p.m. this afternoon from a woman who reported finding a man lying near the road at 2350 North County Road 200 West or Sandy Hook Road.
Emergency crews arrived to find the man had suffered a gun shot wound.
They then found a second man walking outside the home with a gunshot wound and a third man inside.
Police were immediately called to the scene.
The man inside, 56-year-old Nicholas Fields died and 25-year-old Cory Michael Harris, of 2952 South Log Creek Road, both suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
The other man, 29-year-old Danile Smitson, of 3001 South Unionville Rd., suffered a wound to the mouth and was transported to IU Health Hospital in Paoli and University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky where he is listed in stable condition. He is expected to survive.
Police say, none of the men had weapons on them. Police say the men were roommates who shared the mobile home.
Investigators and crime scene technicians are processing the scene looking for clues and indications as to why this incident occurred.
State police believe all three men were shot with a handgun, but officers have not released other details, citing the ongoing investigation. Police are not speculating on any methods or how this happened or reasons why.
Police have not released a description of the possible shooters.
“At this point we’re kind of lacking on witnesses. We’re lacking on other information. Crime-scene techs are on scene. They’re beginning to process, detectives are trying to get their work started, so we’re in the very early stages. We’re fairly confident we can put the pieces together, but it’s very shaky and very early right now,” says ISP Sergeant Philip Hensley.
Family members suspect the shootings were drug related.
Nicky Fields’ brother, Danny Fields, says in recent months his brother who loved to fish and hunt had been put under police surveillance.
“I would have much rather seen him go to jail then where he’s at now,” Danny Fields says.
Police won’t speculate on what’s behind the triple shooting, but they admit to two obstacles: the rain that has the opportunity to compromise the crime scene and just one survivor.
Police say Smitson has been less than cooperative.
“Investigators have talked to him but he’s not really giving us much info to go on right now,” Hensley added.
Danny Fields is convinced there are more people who know what happened.
Anyone with information should call the ISP Jasper Post at 812-482-1441.
The Indiana State Police is being assisted on scene by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Paoli Police Department.
