Despite denials, email shows ex-Henry County sheriff knew of sex abuse claim

Yahoo

8 hours ago

A newly disclosed email contradicts previous claims by former Henry County Sheriff Ric McCorkle that he knew nothing about a 2018 sexual abuse allegation against a community corrections official who was also a special sheriff's deputy.
McCorkle said earlier this year that he was unaware of an inmate's allegation in 2018 that Deputy Community Corrections Director Jason Bertram had touched the man's genitals during a work release meeting in 2018.
The accuser is one of at least seven men who claim Bertram used his power to coerce them into unwanted sexual acts before killing himself in 2023. Most of the men were abused after 2018. Six of them are now suing Henry County leaders in federal court for failing to take steps that could have prevented the abuse.
McCorkle, who was sheriff from 2015 to 2022, said under oath in a March 6 deposition that he was "not aware" of the 2018 allegation. He also told IndyStar in a June 5 phone interview that the allegation "wasn't brought to my attention" and that he "wasn't aware of the '18 complaint."
But an email unearthed as part of the pending civil lawsuits against him and other officials suggest he did know about the allegation.
The email is the most recent evidence to emerge that McCorkle and other Henry County leaders knew about allegations against Bertram for years, but failed to stop him from victimizing more men.
In the June 12, 2018, email, then-Henry County Prosecutor Joe Bergacs asked the Indiana State Police to take over the investigation from the sheriff's department. Bergacs wrote that he "received a call from Sheriff McCorkle" informing him that a Henry County jail inmate named Michael Ritchie had made a complaint against Bertram under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
"The allegations contain inappropriate touching by Mr. Bertram against Mr. Ritchie," Bergacs wrote, noting that Bertram is "a special deputy appointed by the Sheriff."
When confronted with the email, McCorkle told IndyStar he didn't remember the allegation or speaking with Bergacs, but he acknowledged it may have happened.
"I'm not gonna tell you that I didn't," he said in an Aug. 14 phone interview. "I don't remember it. I just don't remember. I have no reason to lie to you, I just don't remember doing any of that with Michael Ritchie."
At the time of the 2018 complaint, both Bergacs and McCorkle sat on the Henry County Community Corrections Advisory Board, which had the power to fire Bertram. But even after they learned of a second accusation from a different inmate in 2020, they took no action to restrict Bertram's access to clients.
Only after several more men came forward with allegations amid a new state police investigation did the board finally fire Bertram in 2022.
"It's sad that this went on so long and that the cover up is still continuing," said Indianapolis attorney Jonathan Little, who is representing Bertram's accusers. "Just think of all the men and boys who could have been spared."
McCorkle attributed the board's inaction to "a lack of sharing information" and said he doesn't beleive there was a cover up. "I don't know why it got dropped," he said, "but I can't imagine anybody wanting to cover it up."
As deputy director of community corrections, Bertram oversaw defendants placed on house arrest or assigned to community service. McCorkle said he designated everyone who worked in community corrections a "special deputy" so that they had arrest powers if needed.
McCorkle isn't the only one who said he forgot about Ritchie's case. Bergacs, the prosecutor at the time, also claimed during a recent deposition that he didn't recall Ritchie's case.
"I really don't remember anything," he said. "I'm sure it had to do with inappropriate touching, but I don't remember whatever the specific allegations are as I sit here now."
Bergacs did not respond to an inquiry from IndyStar, but the newly disclosed email and previously disclosed state police records show that he was heavily involved and that he declined to prosecute Bertram because the statute of limitations had expired.
The statute of limitations is a time limit set in state law for filing criminal charges after an alleged crime is committed. The limit is generally longer for more serious offenses.
Little contends the statute of limitations had not expired for crimes such as sexual battery and official misconduct. He criticized McCorkle and Bergacs for their claims they couldn't remember such a serious allegation against a member of Henry County's law enforcement community.
"Should we be concerned about the rash of amnesia in Henry County?" Little said.
Although McCorkle and Bergacs no longer hold elected office, both men have continued in government service. McCorkle is now a school resource officer for South Henry School Corp. Bergacs is one of four public defenders listed on the county's website.
As IndyStar reported in June, Bergacs and McCorkle are among several county officials who have been named as defendants in lawsuits filed by Bertram's accusers. Others include Community Corrections Director Joni Williams and Henry Circuit Court Judge Kit Crane.
Read IndyStar's investigation: County official abused clients for years. Leaders knew of allegations, but failed to stop him
The lawsuits accuse Henry County officials of effectively running a sex trafficking operation and are seeking damages under federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and the Rackateer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.
Henry County officials have denied in court records that they failed to properly respond to the abuse allegations. Bergacs and Crane have also argued they are entitled to qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that protects government officials from civil liability unless they violate clearly established law.
Contact IndyStar reporter Tony Cook at 317-444-6081 or [e-mail]. Follow him on X: @IndyStarTony.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Despite denials, email shows former sheriff knew of sex abuse claim