Court News
PUBLIC RECORD AUDIT: What is Happening to Our County Workforce?
We are looking closely at the systemic changes impacting Lawrence County employees—decisions being made quietly behind closed doors under the banner of "2026-2027 budget issues." While the commissioners recently adopted the 26/27 county budget publicly, we are receiving concerning reports from inside the county workforce about severe internal cuts that are not being communicated to the taxpayers. Here is what we are hearing is currently happening behind the scenes to the people who keep our coMore Stories
🏛️ COURT NEWS: Swartz Sentenced to 14 Years for Level 3 Felony Methamphetamine Possession 🏛️
📍 BEDFORD, IN — A major drug enforcement case has concluded in Lawrence Superior Court II. In a finalized Sentencing and Commitment Order issued on June 25, 2026, Judge Robert R. Cline handed down a 14-year structural sentence to Claude David Swartz, 49, following a felony drug conviction. Swartz entered a plea of guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 3 Felony. Under the terms of the negotiated plea agreement, any and all other counts originally brought against Swartz in this causePUBLIC RECORD AUDIT: What is Happening to Our County Workforce?
We are looking closely at the systemic changes impacting Lawrence County employees—decisions being made quietly behind closed doors under the banner of "2026-2027 budget issues." While the commissioners recently adopted the 26/27 county budget publicly, we are receiving concerning reports from inside the county workforce about severe internal cuts that are not being communicated to the taxpayers. Here is what we are hearing is currently happening behind the scenes to the people who keep our coLoogootee Woman Arrested in Bedford After Allegedly Entering Home, Claiming She Thought She Was in Washington
A Loogootee woman faces felony and misdemeanor charges in Bedford after residents reported her attempting to break into a vehicle and entering a home uninvited. When confronted by law enforcement, the woman was severely disoriented, testing positive for methamphetamine possession and claiming she believed she was in a different county. Kacrissa Jo Salmon, 34, was arrested on the evening of June 22, 2026, by the Bedford Police Department. Erratic Behavior on 33rd Street At approximately 7:28Mitchell Man Jailed for Intimidation After Alleged Death Threats Over 30-Year-Old Rumor
A Mitchell man faces a criminal charge of intimidation after he reportedly sent a series of terrifying messages threatening to kill his wife and another man over an alleged infidelity rumor dating back three decades. John E. Porter, 61, was arrested on Wednesday evening, June 17, 2026, by the Mitchell Police Department. The Facebook Messages and Out-of-County Search The investigation began at approximately 5:40 p.m. when Porter's wife arrived at the Mitchell Police station to report active t🏛️ COURT NEWS: Four Attempted Murder Charges Dismissed as Elijah D. York Receives 6-Year Combined Sentence 🏛️
📍 BEDFORD, IN — A resolution has been reached in Lawrence Superior Court 1 in a major case originally opened under an incredibly severe set of Level 1 Felony allegations earlier this year. In a finalized Sentencing and Commitment Order issued on June 17, 2026, Pro Tem Judge Robert R. Cline ordered 18-year-old Elijah D. York to a structured multi-year sentence involving electronic monitoring and supervised probation. 🔍 The Initial Charges vs. The Final Plea When the case was first opened und
🏛️ COURT NEWS: Justin Bowden Sentenced to 12 Years for Arson; Active Misdemeanor Case Remains Pending 🏛️
📍 BEDFORD, IN — A severe felony fire investigation has concluded with a major prison sentence in Lawrence Superior Court 1, though the defendant's time on the local docket isn't entirely over. On June 15, 2026, Pro Tem Judge Robert R. Cline ordered Justin S. Bowden to serve over a decade in state custody. Bowden entered a plea of guilty to Arson, a Level 4 Felony. In exchange for the plea, the State aggressively cleared the docket by dismissing nine other criminal counts originally brought aga
WATCHDOG SPOTLIGHT: Active Leadership on the Road with Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day
WATCHDOG SPOTLIGHT & DEEP DIVE: The Hands-On Leadership of Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day When evaluating the effectiveness of our local law enforcement, it is easy to focus entirely on the final arrest reports or court dockets. But true leadership in law enforcement isn't just about managing from behind a desk—it’s about being out in the community, side-by-side with the deputies who patrol our roads every single day. Today, we want to take a moment to recognize Lawrence County Sheriff Greg