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 Jeff Lehman |
In a pretrial hearing Friday morning in Greene Circuit Court in Bloomfield, Special Prosecutor Barry Brown informed the court that the state intends to file an amended charge reducing the felony count to a misdemeanor.
Lehman was originally charged with strangulation, a class D felony -- the count that is expected to be reduced, and three other counts including 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.
The charges were filed after an investigation into an alleged incident reported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department on Nov. 16 by Misty Allen of Linton.
A warrant was issued for Lehman's arrest Jan. 3 and he turned himself in at the Greene County Jail on the morning of Jan. 4. He was incarcerated for a 12-hour period -- which is standard in assault-related cases -- and then released after posting a $6,500 bond in the form of ten percent cash.
Brown, a former two-term county prosecutor from Bloomington, is representing the state in the proceedings and defense attorney Jacob Fish is representing Lehman. The appointment of a special prosecutor was requested in the case by Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw. A special judge was also appointed from a neighboring county -- Judge P.J. Pierson from Sullivan County.
With Judge Pierson presiding at Friday's hearing, Brown also told the court the state and the defense were making a joint motion requesting a continuance of the jury trial and asked it to be set for a date sometime after Thanksgiving but before the end of the year.
Judge Pierson then vacated the trial date of Aug. 19 and set the time of 9 a.m. on Aug. 19 for a telephonic pre-trial conference during which the trial date will be set.
Fish, representing Lehman who was also present during the hearing, told the court the Aug. 19 date was in conflict with another jury trial (State vs. Foote) scheduled to occur on the same date in the same courtroom.
After the hearing, Fish noted that this is only the second continuance that has been granted in this case.
dear pisces >>> The 6 foot one girl was at the camper that day bet u didnt know that huh!!! wonder what she was doing there ? and for your info she defended her self pretty good id say but doesnt mean she ever hit him first so learn the truth before u respond
"cheese u are full of it get real go to school ."
lawman, it is the improper handling of this case that is full of cheese.
"Judge Pierson then vacated the trial date of Aug. 19 and set the time of 9 a.m. on Aug. 19 for a telephonic pre-trial conference during which the trial date will be set"
A telephonic pre-trial conference? Everyone should be afforded the opportunity for a telephonic pre-trial conference! I wonder if the judge will remember to make the call?
I hope the GCDW updates us with what I am sure will be yet another astounding revelation in favor of the defendant!
Susie, we are on different sides on this particular issue, but your post to Lawman was hysterically funny!!!! Humor really is the great connector!!!
lawman so wittingly stated:
"cheese u are full of it get real go to school ."
↑ It is very obvious that you've had much schooling. ↑
cheese u are full of it get real go to school .
An experienced prosecutor knows to look for the strengths and weaknesses of each case. In a weak case, the prosecutor must determine what charges he can prove. He should offer a plea to these charges.
If the prosecutor has a strong case against the accused, he should, when appropriate, demand that the accused plead to the most serious charges. If the accused refuses to so plead, then the prosecutor should take the case to trial. Using this formula, most cases will end in a guilty plea by the accused.
The key to the correct use of plea bargaining is to ensure that the bargain is to the community and victim, NOT the accused.
well greeneman try again she has not changed her story
Susiecream that is simply not true. Most if not all pleas are first offered by the state then negotiated by the defense. No one has answered my question is it possible that she changed her story is the reason the prosecutor changed the charges? How many people thought the Duke Lacross players were guilt at first? I am not saying what happened was right. But if her story changed, the prosecutor should change the charges to fit what she said happened. That is not a conspiracy, that is the law. What would you expect the prosecutor to do? Why else would he drop them? a conspiracy? Quit watching JFK and get real. the prosecutor in this case has years of experiance from my understanding, maybe, just maybe he knows his job and the case better than we do?
Dear greeneman no she hasnt changed her story i know for a fact it was a favorite thing mr. lehman liked doing (choking her)!!!
Susiecream that is simply not true. Most, if not all pleas are offered by the state, then negotiated by the defense from there. No one has answered my question if it is possible she changed her story is why the prosecutor changed the charges? How many people thought the Duke Lacross players were guilty at first? Not saying what happened was right, but that maybe it was not as it appeared at first. Stories change as should charges if the story does.
The victim was at the shrine club that day also pictures prove she was attacked and the 911 call and they had been dating for 3 years so im sure all that doesnt prove nothing? yes special treatment id say
This is true however plea bargaining is normally initiated by the defense, not the state. The defense attorneys job has been made very easy in this case as the state is ever so conveniently doing all the work for him. Special treatment? Oh yeah!
Almost every court case never makes it to court with all of the original charges.
susiecreamcheese look at it this way ......its happened to more then one two three woman maybe next time greene county will be paying for a murder conviction
Greeneman wrote:
"Almost all charges are pled out. Some are through plea agreements and some through pre trial diversion"
The diversion in this particular case began at the scene of the alleged crime on November 16th 2007!
Very very well stated Globe&Anchor!
Greeneman:
Your "perhaps", "maybes", and "endless possibilities" aside; the legal system in this country, and in Greene County is the purest form of politics that exist anywhere. Finances, race, sex, and political influence all play significant roles in the process. Anyone that states that the legal system is not political is the one that is most unfamiliar with the legal system. Every Judge and Prosecutor in this entire country is a political appointee or elected. No exceptions!
Very well said, Greeneman! THANK YOU!
Has anyone considered that she changed her story is the reason the charges would be reduced? Nothing is black or white and people do exaggerate or outright lie. Not saying she is, but maybe that is why the charges were reduced rather than some grand conspiracy involving politics. Has anyone asked this prosuctor why? I read these comments and they seem like they are from people who have no knowledge of the legal system. Almost all charges are pled out. Some are through plea agreements and some through pre trial diversion. If this guy has no criminal record, why would he not be eligable for something that is avaiable to every other person in this county if they were not who he was? Thats not politics, that is the legal system not just in greene county, but everywhere.
zenos size doesnt matter!!! thank god she was able to defend her self many times huh
Yes, pictures are worth a thousand words...but in the absence of pictures, one has to go on what's in front of them...
Thanks for the support, zenos...it's lonely on this side of the fence!!!
hmmmm.....pisces im sure she has defended her self manytimes durring the abusive relationship shes so tall doesnt mean she hit him first!!!
pictures are worth a thousand words!!!!! and for u 2 that think u know it all it happened more then 6 times and 3 times 911 was called and nothing was ever done
I agree with pisces. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?? All of you morons who automatically assume the worst, that "political motivation" is a big factor here, obviously aren't taking into consideration the possibility that things might simply not have happened the way the alleged victim has stated. It wouldn't suprise me to learn that she lied and/or exagerrated to the cops. And red marks on her neck? She could've put those on herself. And anyone else who doesn't know, she's 6'1" and built bigger than most men!!
accidentally hit "enter" before I was finished...
And why does everything that doesn't go the way of public opinion have to be "politically motivated"? The prosecutor reduced charges on a case that was weak? Must be politically motivated! It certainly couldn't have been reduced because of a lack of evidence, or some other reason. Because YOU think she is telling the truth, then it must be so, right?
Why does everyone just automatically assume that this is a travesty against this "poor" ALLEGED victim?? She's not innocent herself here...she trespassed on his property after they argued at a bar and parted ways (this according to prior published reports after the incident). And let's face it...she was known to have dished out more than her share of punches and abuse over the course of time here, prior to this incident. Did that make the news?? Where's the lynch mob there? Women are not punching bags...but neither are men, and if a woman is going to hit a man, she better be "man" enough to back it up.
as the victim stated it wouldnt go no where boy was she right.......good luck linton what a shame!!!!!!
Sad situation. The politicly connected get delays, reductions, and eventually dismissals.
Non-county officials were requested to preside to circumvent issues with future elections. Justice
is a wonderful concept - it just does not exist
in Greene County.
that is the point moron. hey, "whocares" quit wasting oxygen smart people could be breathing.
Lets see the DEMOCRATS mainly influence Bloomington and the Greene County Democrat Party Chairman is who? Jeffrey Lehman....So if you don't think this is political, I don't know what planet you are from.....What if this was your mother or sister this happened to? Would you be happy that the felony was dropped? I am not related to anyone in this article...But I think it is a bunch of bull#### how this could happen, and how could it NOT be political infulenced. What planet are you from????
Because it is VERY obvious that the "special" handling of this case is indeed being influenced by political ties!
Why is everyone talking about the local elections coming up? This has nothing to do with the locat election. There is a special prosector and judge appointed to this case. It has nothing to do with our local elected officials. The only person involved in the case that would be elected is Jacob Fish for judge.
I am saddened by this,..but I am not surprised. Several people have posed the question: "What if this were me"?? "What kind of special deals would they cut for me"? More than likely, most of us would have to face a jury of our peers,..as it should be. But not for the democratic party chairman..why the heck does'nt someone higher up the ladder do something??? Perhaps the local TV news departments should investigate...that ought to get thier attention.
These people know that a few months from now, most folks will have forgotten the whole thing, but thankfully, some of us will not. It would be interesting for the powers that be to publically declare why these charges are being reduced...on what grounds?? What technical detail enables them to do this? Is this standard procedure??? This does involve a public official you know, someone future generations are supposed to look up to...I'll bet you don't hear a peep out of anyone involved....especially the one's closest to this injustice.
The local elections are coming up, but certainly not soon enough....lets see how the ones in power now dance around issues such as this then.
It doesn't matter how big this woman is.... Is she a professional body builder that might have a chance at defending herself? (I hardly doubt it he would never date someone like that) But men are stronger than women it is a proven fact. If she followed him there that night then he should have called the police to have her removed, but he opted not to do that, instead he picked to chock her. I was told any time you obstruct some ones airway it is a felony. I think this is a joke to our judicial system, and is political. Time to have women in there to take care of things…
Knowing the family and the way Jeff was raised, I know he was never taught to hit a woman.However, I am sure he is not the only one to not follow his parents advise all the time and unless you are someone who is so perfect as to be able to live in a glass house then you should not throw stones. Also the woman was following him and was an uninvited person when she went into his trailer. How many of you realize that this woman is bigger than Jeff?
This guy is still the party chairman? What the heck?
This is why people take the law into their own hands. The system has failed again!
By the way Jeff, have you ever been told you don't
hit a women!!!!
Try picking on someone your own size next time.
I'm sure there are lots of them out there.
I'm one of them!!!!!!!! Shame on you.
It is odd that the prosecution has been delayed for such a period of time. Now the felony charge is reduced to a misdemeanor, even more strange? I do not know if it is because he is county chairman or has deep pockets, or both. I do beleive that in instances where similar charges have been filed in Greene County, the person would have already been tried.
Wow!!! Politics are dirty no matter where you look! I guess the longer they delay the trial, the less of a problem for the (sic) chairman.
Wow!!! Politics are dirty no matter where you look! I guess the longer they delay the trial, the less of a problem for the (sic) chairman.
on what grounds does the state reduce a felony? are not us tax payers paying to pursue conviction the of the criminal. what the %*@& ....The blue ducks hang together again....long live the shrine.
Holy **** batman who would have ever thought this would have ever happen? This is such a joke and a laugh in the face to all the women who have ever faced abuse like this! Maybe this should be a warning to any woman who would ever date Lehman in the future maybe you should have a lifetime personal protection permit.
"... the Aug. 19 date was in conflict with another jury trial (State vs. Foote) scheduled to occur on the same date in the same courtroom." The "addition" to the courthouse -- for better or for worse -- has 3 courtrooms, the third being made for just this purpose.
I wondered just how long it would be before they either dropped or reduced the charges on him. What else would one expect in greene county.
ok, drop the felony so he can remain party chairnam and delay the trial until after the election. if you read between the lines it all makes perfect sense and preverted justice.
Regardless if Lehman is found quilty (or not) on any charge, he may be sued in a civil suit.
GCDW printed on 1-4-08:
"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."
-------
Why was this man not arrested at the time this incident occurred and especially so if the victims injuries were witnessed by the investigating officers? Anyone else would have most certainly been arrested under these circumstances. Special treatment perhaps?
I believe the answer is quite simple and answered by the victim herself ....
"it wouldn't go anywhere because he was a chairman"
I don't believe it's a matter of having deep pockets at all. In my opinion this is quite obviously a prime example of a politically biased travesty playing out right before our eyes.
Because the FACTS in the case must speak for themselves...not having been on the scene (as no one but the two of them were), no one knows what happened, only what the "victim" reported. Must not have been as black and white as previously thought...
HMMM...DEEP POCKETS HAVE SPECIAL POWERS...
Well of course the charges will be reduced, did anyone truly expect anything different? The handling of this case has been ill conceived from the very beginning in my opinion. I was wondering just how long it would take for this fact to be announced publicly. How many times have you read the word "special" pertaining to this case? What a crock of injustice!
WHAT?? WHY??