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Read comments (24)Greene County Sheriff's Department Deputy Aaron Smith booked Lehman in on preliminary charges of strangulation, a class D felony; interference with the reporting of a crime, a class A misdemeanor; disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor; and battery resulting in bodily injury, a class A misdemeanor.
Bond was set at $6,500, with 10 percent allowed. Jail officer Lee Condol told the Greene County Daily World that Lehman has made arrangements to post bond and was released from the jail after a mandatory 12-hour hold.
Greene County Sheriff Terry Pierce said the 12-hour jail hold is "standard" and is set by the court.
Lehman is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Greene Circuit Court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 18.
Lehman's troubles are in connection with an investigation into an incident reported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department on Nov. 16 by Misty Allen of Linton.
The call log at the sheriff's department includes a 911 call made at 11:53 p.m. by Allen from the Greene County Shrine Club in rural Stockton Township.
According to the call report, Dispatcher Terry Jackson was unable to understand Allen during her call and called her back.
During the return call, Allen told the dispatcher "that she was choked at the Shrine Club by Jeff Lehman" and stated that she was being choked at the time of the 911 call and that's why they couldn't understand her.
Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Inman and Reserve Deputy Bradley Richard were dispatched to proeprty leased from the Greene County Shrine Club where campers are located and were later assisted by Linton Police Department Officer Jayson Smith. A report on the incident was taken and the log notes they finished at 2:01 a.m.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in Greene Circuit Court on Thursday, when the dispatcher asked Allen if anything was wrong, she stated no and also said "it wouldn't go anywhere because he was a chairman" and that "he always gets away with it because the Linton officers let him get away with it."
When officers interviewed Allen that evening at her home, they observed a spot on her throat and some red marks and scratches in the throat area, and an injury to her right eye with some swelling and redness.
Deputy Inman writes in the affidavit that Allen said she was in the Sportsman Bar in Linton when Lehman approached her. She said they left at separate times and went back to his place near the Shrine Club.
Allen said once inside of Lehman's camper, he "punched her in the right eye and grabbed her by the throat and started to choke her." She pulled out her phone and dialed 911 when he grabbed her by the throat again. She said she was unable to breath and feared for her life.
Inman also wrote, "Misty stated that she didn't want to write a statement out, because she was scared that she would get killed."
She told the officers she had had approximately five beers.
On that same night, the officers later spoke to Lehman at his camper near the Shrine Club.
According to the affidavit, "Jeff stated that he was in the Sportsman Bar when Misty walked in. Jeff stated that he got up and got his coat and told Mary (Sportsman Bar owner) that he was leaving."
Lehman said Allen got up and left behind him and followed him to his camper. Once she got there, they got into a fight outside and she punched him in the eye.
Inman wrote, "Jeff also stated that he didn't want her out at his camper so he was making her leave. Jeff stated that he may have shoved her away, but he didn't know." He said she might have fallen and hit a ladder. He said he didn't want her there.
The officers told him if he didn't want her there, he needed to call police.
Lehman said he did call an officer who told him Allen had gotten kicked out of the bar.
Lehman also said he had not seen Allen for almost a week.
When officers checked back with Allen, she said she had not gotten kicked out of the bar. She also said she had a relationship with Lehman going on for three years and that "it had been physical off and on."
Inman stated that when he contacted Mary Barvient at the Sportsman bar, she stated that she did not kick Allen out of the bar but she could tell there was tension between them and that Allen left after Lehman left.
Lehman is employed by the City of Linton and is the chairman of the Greene County Democrat Party, a position he has held for 12 years.
On Nov. 20, Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod D. Holtsclaw filed a motion requesting the appointment of a special prosecutor in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety on the part of the Prosecutor's Office.
In his request, Holtsclaw asked that "if a special prosecutor is appointed, that he or she be permitted to conduct the investigation into the allegation, make the charging decision and, if the decision is made to file criminal charges, prosecute the criminal case."
Greene Circuit Court Judge Erik Allen then named Barry Brown of Monroe County as prosecutor for this case and he accepted the appointment. Brown is a senior prosecutor who has been appointed as the special prosecuting attorney in numerous cases.
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Maybe people should keep their comments to themselves unless they know both sides of the story. It is not fair to judge every situation exactly the same way. There would be a lot less drama in this world if everyone would stick to the facts and not comment about peoples lives and their hardships when you do not have the correct information. It is very easy to sit back and judge others when you are trying to cover your own imperfections. I personally know every person in the Lehman family and I have much respect and admiration for them all. I have known them my entire life and they have known my family their entire lifes. I have been at their dinner table, in their pew at church, at their hospital bed, at their weddings, funerals, graduations, and too many countless other milestones in their lives. They have also been there through all of mine. The Lehmans are an outstanding family and they will prevail through this situation.
And if this was a "less fortunate" person in this situation, it would not be posted all over the papers and internet and would not be generating so much attention. Talk about the power of money and public status. Maybe it pays to stay in the shadows.
Lets give a hand to "america", they want to keep everybody out of jail. Wish we were all that smart. Thanks for the funny comments.
Well for some reason my posting went poof and is gone. As a former abused wife I can tell you I fought back so if he had a black eye good for her. I'm sure if he did try to strangle her there are marks. That was one of my exhubbys favorites and it always left marks. He should be treated no different than that other guy who they say beat his girlfriend. One thing about abuse it stays with you it's like drinking and driving it never goes away. Once you cross that line they keep it in your records for possible problems in the future. They both should serve time in jail. Plus seek mental health help. Something made them cross that line and once they do they will again. I've been through it and I know.
pisces,
I think you need to read the whole thing. I think if he would have just went inside charges might have been filed on her, but it would be hard to believe that she didn't get hit. If he didn't want problems he should have went inside.
She says the fight happen inside, he said outside
whocares-I haven't actually read the affadavit personally, and that is my fault. I noticed the article in the TH paper, and that was what it said the affadavit said...that he had a black eye and he said she punched him. My only question is why we take her word for it (cops included) but not his?
Thank you for correcting me...when I'm wrong, I freely admit it--and I (and the TH Tribune) were apparently wrong here.
Pisces,
I read the deputies paperwork (on another website) and it does not say anything about a black eye. It said that he had a red mark underneath his eye. Who knows if the mark came from the fight or where he was sleeping.
If he didn't want her there why didn't he call the police. That could have been away to stop everything.
From everything I have read he never even called the police.
I read the AP story in the Terre Haute paper today (Sunday)--mentions that the affadavit indicates Lehman had a black eye and indicated that she instigated the fight-which proves my point in my previous post. I still wonder--why is it OK for a woman to start a fight by punching man--where's the "battery charge" there? Abuse is abuse; assault is assault. And, yes, I am a woman.
HOW CONVENIENT HE CAN TURN HIMSELF IN EARLY IN THE MORNING HOURS - THEN 12 HOURS LATER, HE'S RELEASED AND STILL HASN'T SPENT A NIGHT BEHIND BARS.
And just because she can fight like a man doesn't mean she should have to suffer at the hands of a man....
Being a Shriner myself, I can say that I am truly disappointed in a fellow Shriner puting himself in this position.
Even though this incident has nothing to do with the Shrine, people will associate it with the Greene County Shrine Club because it happened on property. Please don't let this cast any kind of shadow over the GREAT work Shriners do on behalf of crippled children!
Friends in high places,and lot of money and
resources sounds nothing like how a situation
was handled
My comment had nothing to do with the Shine Club or the Shiner's themselves, my husband has been a Shiner for over 25yrs,, My comment was on the way that the whole situation was handled..
I don't beleive in a man beating on a woman. been there. but I have seen this lady in action and beleive me she can fight like a man so I would probley defend myself if I was a man..also it did not happened at the shrine club it happened at a camper on the property
You better watch bad mouthing the shrine club or shriners they do alot of good things and help alot of crippled babys you grandma's out there might need them someday but I hope you never do..
America,
You know what they say..."when you lay down with dogs...." This proves the point.
Stay out of the bars, spend time with your family and attend church. Trouble has a hard time finding you when you do this!
Only time will tell what happens with this case, but I can't say that I feel sorry for Mr. Lehman! If Mr. Lehman truly feared for his life, then he is justified in protecting himself. If he acted out of anger or due to the alcohol, then he has a long way to go in learning to be a MAN!
Calypso22, You should read the article again. The article said Lehman 'will' be released upon the 12-hour hold, not 'was'.
On the arrest, I'm glad that a special prosecutor was appointed to review these extremely important charges against a public official (he is a government employee). Also, it is telling that the special prosecutor is Barry Brown from Bloomington, a well-known Democrat. I hope Mr. Lehman didn't harm this woman, because hitting a woman is NEVER acceptable. What could she have done to deserve this, absolutely nothing. However, it's obvious that she was harmed. And, the type of injuries would not have occurred from a fall from a ladder. What a ridiculous comment.
I agree with Grama 3. I agree innocent until provin guilty, but it always seems that when it is a city officiall or anyone in a higher position around green county you get a slap on the wrist guilty, or not. As Mr. Jones stated h e will back him cause he's a city employee. If these type of things went on with just us normall citizen's we would get no remorce and the book thrown at us. It just depend's who you are around here. Whether he did it or not he's not any better than anyone else just because he works for the city of Linton. He's human and people do make mistakes and get prevoked,drink, and ect. to do wrong things. He may be a good employee and nice as can be on the job but after works hours who's to say what goes on in peoples lives. So just because he's a city employee doesn't make him a saint.
I'm with those that say "innocent until proven guilty"...let the FACTS (not rumors, not heresay, not gossip) speak for themselves. So far the only FACTS are that someone was bruised and banged up, and Mr. Lehman was drunk. I think it's safe to say what happened based on those facts, but until proven guilty, he is innocent. I'm also against battery (be it by man or woman); however, if a fight broke out, and she instigated that fight with violence, is it OK because it's woman vs. man? If he defends himself is that battery? I know...there is no proof it happened that way, but one has to look at all theories, since we have the word of a drunk man and the word of a "victim"...
Assult is a crime. It isn't something to be taken lightly and there is no justification; everyone has control of his/her own tempers. I'm speaking from the experience of having been assaulted. If he did do it, then he should pay the consequences, but he also has the right to be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
Other information will likely come out before this is all over with. But, assault is a crime -- whether it is done by a male or female. Those found guilty of assault should be punished.
"...this whole incident is a travesty of justice... Adultery should be criminal and provocation should be a more serious crime with a larger punishment under state law." WOW. Were you THERE, america? And on criminalizing adultery - do you support other tenets of Shariah Law? Have you heard what happens to women in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia? And provocation is a really lame excuse for attempted strangulation. People can keep their hands to themselves if they choose to.
I think there are many issues that people don't know about. The situtation isn't always what it seems. The other party that was involved just might be guilty of a few things herself. Just wait and see...time will open up the facts. Let the system of justice work itself out.
Maybe you shouldn't punish a dog for biting you after backing him in a corner, but Mr. Lehman isn't a dog, he is a human and if he did assault a woman he is intelligent enough he knows better and should be punished.
Please remember that all people are innocent until proven guilty......and that none of us know all the facts because we were not there.
Mr. Lehman has done a lot of good things for the city of Linton and maybe we can remember that.
Grandma3, How would you know what happened on New Years Eve unless you were there also doing the same thing? Don't forget about innocent until proven guilty!
Well atleast he had a really good time at the Shine Club on New Year's Eve... drinking and dancing... he must be pretty confident that he will not be charged... it payes to have 'FRIENDS' in high places and with alot of money and resouces to help you out of these kind of situations...