Latest news with #CommunityCorrections
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Despite denials, email shows ex-Henry County sheriff knew of sex abuse claim
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 Follow him on X: @IndyStarTony. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Despite denials, email shows former sheriff knew of sex abuse claim
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Lawsuits: Henry Co. officials covered up rape, abuse
Numerous lawsuits, including one filed this week, claim that a former deputy director of Henry County Community Corrections and a former Henry County Sheriff raped or sexually abused convicts for decades, and their actions were covered up by other county officials.
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- News.com.au
Salim Mehajer set to be released from jail after five years behind bars
Disgraced former politician Salim Mehajer is set to be released from prison after he was on Monday granted parole, with strict conditions including he not associate with outlaw bikies. Mehajer will be released next month after the State Parole Authority on Tuesday handed down a decision to grant him parole on a long list of conditions. In a hearing before the Authority earlier this month, the Commissioner of Corrective Services opposed his release, citing a risk of reoffending, his lack of attitudinal change and Mehajer's continued denial of some of his crimes. This is despite a Community Corrections prerelease report recommending that Mehajer be released on conditional parole when he becomes eligible for release on July 18. The parole board took into account that he had completed all possible programs in prison, determining his rehabilitation was better served in the community where he will be under the watch of a psychologist and community corrections officers. Upon his release, he will have to be of good behaviour, report to a Community Corrections officer, participate in any domestic violence programs where directed, have ongoing treatment from a private psychologist and undergo drug and alcohol testing. He is also banned from contacting his victim and entering The Central Coast. As well, he must not have any communication with Outlaw Motorcycle Gang members or associates. Mehajer is serving a seven-year and nine-month prison term for domestic violence offences against a former partner, as well as fraud for forging his lawyer's signature. The former property developer and Auburn deputy mayor has been in prison since November 2020 when he was jailed for lying to a court and has served back-to-back sentences for multiple offences. Mehajer was jailed in November 2020 after he was found guilty of two counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of making a false statement under oath. The case centred on his lies in affidavits and under cross-examination that he used to secure relaxed bail conditions. In 2023, Mehajer was again found guilty in separate trials for unrelated fraud and domestic violence matters. Mehajer was sentenced to a maximum of seven years and nine months in jail for both sets of offences. He was found guilty by a jury of multiple counts of assault, one count of intimidation and one count of suffocation relating to his abuse of an ex-partner. He was found guilty of assaulting the woman by punching her in the head during an argument in his car, squeezing her hand and crushing her phone that she was holding, suffocating her by putting his hand over her nose and mouth until she passed out as well as threatening to kill the woman's mother. The following month, he was found guilty by a jury of two counts each of making a false document and using a false document. He was found to have created false statutory declarations and affidavits by forging the signatures of his solicitor, Zali Burrows, and sister. Last year, Mehajer pleaded guilty to his role in a bizarre staged car crash in an attempt to duck a court appearance. He pleaded guilty to 22 charges, including perverting the course of justice, making a false representation resulting in a police investigation, making a false call for an ambulance and negligent driving. He admitted to staging the car accident in Sydney's west in October 2017, with the court hearing that Mehajer orchestrated the incident in a bid to delay his court appearance for an unrelated criminal matter for assaulting a taxi driver, to which he later pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to a maximum of two years for the crash offences, with a non-parole period of 16 months. Mehajer will be released in July.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ribbon-cutting held for Lewis-Upshur Community Recovery Center
BUCKHANNON, (WBOY) — The Lewis-Upshur Community Recovery Center was introduced to the area during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning, where attendees were able to walk around the space and see some of the different features that the community recovery center has to offer. Some of the different services that are provided include counseling and group sessions, as well as other activities like yoga and art classes, according to 18th Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Program Director Cheyenne Troxell. She told 12 News that the reason the program chose this building instead of the Community Corrections & Day Report Center was to help reduce the stigma that comes with attempting to get help, and no drug testing is done in this building. VA hosts PACT Act Claims clinic in Clarksburg 'We're actually very blessed in Upshur County to have a lot of services,' said Troxell. 'But I think our addition of the different space and our hybrid model, […] combining traditional counseling with the holistic approaches is what works really well for the clients that we've seen.' Troxell stated that she feels this center will be a positive addition to the community because all of the services that the program will put on the monthly calendar are free to the community. Anybody is able to attend these events, and nothing additional is needed, such as insurance or a referral. According to Troxell, the 18th Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Program deals with a lot of clients and programs related to addiction. She added that almost anything can be addictive and addiction can manifest itself in many different forms (drugs, food, etc.), so they welcome anybody who's struggling with anything to stop by. The space is set up to be immersive, with murals and decorative backgrounds in many of the different rooms. There's also a sensory room in the facility, which Troxell said is for people who need different things to be able to heal. Troxell also told 12 News that she wants people who attended Wednesday's ribbon-cutting and open house to just think about how many needs there are of people that are around them in the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Stabbing of Department of Corrections staff member at Whanganui office prompts security review
A former probation officer at the Wilson St offices, who the Whanganui Chronicle has agreed not to name, said it was 'an incident waiting to happen'. She said she felt unsafe due to a lack of security at the office site. Unlike courts, there were no metal detectors or security guards where staff regularly met offenders. The ex-officer hoped a formal review could bring additional security measures. Morrison said they could confirm that the Whanganui Community Corrections site had CCTV, but for security reasons, could not detail all the security measures in place. 'We have robust processes in place which include extensive training for our staff on keeping safe at work, physical security features, and technological security features which enable staff to quickly activate a call for urgent assistance,' Morrison said. Morrison said Corrections took the safety and wellbeing of all staff extremely seriously. 'The reality of our environments and the people we manage means the risk of violence is something we cannot eliminate. 'However, we are committed to learning from the incident last week to identify additional steps we should take to keep our Community Corrections staff safe. 'Every single one of our staff deserves to feel safe and to go home to their loved ones each day.' Home visit safety concerns Probation officers work with people serving community-based sentences and help to rehabilitate recently released prisoners. The ex-officer said she was concerned about inadequate protection when making home visits to offenders. Morrison said community staff completed on-the-job training around how to keep themselves safe, which included strategies around de-escalation and environmental risks to consider. He said all sites had a process to account for all staff on home visits, including technological security features which enable them to quickly activate a call for urgent assistance. 'Two staff attend home visits, so there is an additional person to support the environmental assessment while the other is engaging with the person. 'If there are risks or safety concerns, the staff shouldn't conduct the home visit.' Man charged with stabbing A 25-year-old man appeared in Whanganui District Court on April 10 charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The defendant was granted interim name suppression and remanded without plea until his next appearance. The duty lawyer said psychiatric reports were 'likely to be ordered' under the Mentally Impaired Persons Act.
