DECATUR COUNTY, IN — A Decatur County man has been sentenced to a total of 1,900 days in prison in two separate cases.
Jonathon Johns was convicted by a jury in early April of Domestic Battery (Level 6 Felony) but found him not guilty of Robbery and he pleaded guilty to Non-Support of a Dependent Child (also a Level 6 Felony) and to Being a Habitual Offender.
Decatur Circuit Judge Tim Day sentenced Johns to 900 days in the Domestic Battery case and 1,000 days on the Non Support and Habitual Offender charges.
Sentencing in the Domestic Battery case was at Judge Day’s discretion, while the Court was limited to 1,170 days total in the Non Support of a Dependent case.
Prosecutor Nate Harter argued for 900 days in prison for the Domestic Battery and 1,170 days in prison for the Nonsupport and Habitual Offender charges.
Harter pointed to the evidence presented at trial, Johns’ significant criminal history, and the very large $20,000+ arrearage on his child support obligation.
Court documents indicate Johns has prior convictions for Attempted Robbery as a Class C Felony in 1991, Sexual Misconduct with a Minor as a Class B Felony in 1998, Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury as a Class D Felony in 2014, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe as a Level 6 Felony, and Possession of Methamphetamine as a Level 6 Felony in 2016, among other misdemeanors such as Resisting Law Enforcement, Invasion of Privacy, multiple Batteries, Check Deception, Conversion, Possession of Marijuana, and Public Intoxication.
After both sides presented their arguments, Judge Day handed down the sentences in each case.
“I am so grateful for the victim in the battery case for having the courage to tell her story for the jury. Hearing her say she is pleased with the outcome is immensely rewarding and makes the hours of preparation worth every second,” Harter said. “I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank Deputy Prosecutor Elizabeth Lecher Hochstedler for serving as co-counsel in the case. I am so proud to have her on the team and excited for her future.”
Harter also recognized Greensburg Police Officer Mitch Tuttle, GPD Sgt. Joe Radcliff, former Decatur County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Hadler, and Decatur County Probation Office Child Support Office Manager Shelley Warfield for their work in securing the convictions.
“I should also pause to express gratitude to the public here. Four different witnesses stopped what they were doing, reported what they saw to the police, and ultimately testified at trial,” Harter added. “Without their aid, this conviction would have been much more difficult. I hope this community continues to stick up for what’s right when they see something wrong.”
