On December 12, 2025, at 8:04 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a two-vehicle accident on State Road 64 near the Wabash River Bridge. Upon arriving on scene, emergency service personnel discovered that a Blue 2012 Chrysler Van and a Gray 2021 Toyota Truck had collided and there was one person trapped inside the van. Patoka Township Fire and Owensville Fire extricated the individual and they were transported to an Evansville area hospital for treatment for a serious bodily injury.
During the investigation of the incident Deputy Eric Powell detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver of the Toyota truck, 25-year-old Zachary Whittler of Mount Carmel. At that point he began a roadside DUI involving a serious bodily injury accident investigation. Once the inquiry was completed Mr. Whittler was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury.
Deputy Powell was assisted by several emergency service personnel from the Sheriff’s Office, Princeton Police Department, Fort Branch Police Department, Patoka Township Fire Department, Owensville Fire Department, and Gibson County Ambulance Service.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wabash Co. Deputy Court Case Delayed Again
The long-delayed preliminary hearing for former Wabash County Sheriff’s Deputy Chase Cheadle has been rescheduled once again -this time for January 8th. The new date marks the ninth delay in the case, with continuances stretching back to November 14th of last year.
Cheadle, the former canine handler for the sheriff’s department, was originally charged with eight offenses, including four counts of official misconduct, one count of theft, one count of animal cruelty, and two counts of violating animal owner duties. Five of those charges were felonies.
However, in June, Special Prosecutor Brian Towne dismissed two of the felony counts — the theft charge and one count of official misconduct.
The case centers around Kiki, the department’s K-9, whom the 30-year-old Cheadle reported finding unresponsive in July of 2024. Cheadle was arrested after an investigation into the dog’s death and resigned from the sheriff’s department the following month.
Cheadle’s preliminary hearing is now set for January 8th, pending any further delays.
Youth First Social Worker Arrested for Child Seduction
Gibson County – Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation on November 6 after detectives received information regarding inappropriate behavior between a Youth First social worker and a 16-year-old male student at Princeton High School.
During the criminal investigation, the social worker was identified as Mariah Lienemann, 30, of Owensville. Suspicious behavior was reported to school administrators on November 6, and police were immediately contacted. The student had been in Lienemann’s class since the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
Indiana State Police detectives were able to determine during the investigation that Lienemann allegedly had sexual relations with the student on more than one occurrence in the classroom during school hours. Detectives also discovered numerous inappropriate text messages, and more than 15 Facetime calls between Lienemann and the student.
The Gibson County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed this case and charged Lienemann with Child Seduction, a Level 5 Felony. An arrest warrant was issued on December 11. At approximately 5:40 p.m. this evening, Indiana State Police arrested Lienemann at her residence without incident. She was transported to the Gibson County Jail where she is currently being held on bond.
Lienemann is no longer employed with Youth First.
Investigating Officers: Detective Nick Hatfield and Sergeant Brad Chandler, Indiana State Police
Mt. Carmel City Council Agenda
Meeting is Monday at 2pm.
Wabash County Commissioner Meeting Agenda
Meeting starts at 4:30pm in the Courtroom.
Indian national sentenced to federal prison for scamming elderly residents
Victims spanned five Midwest states with an intended loss of more than $2.2 million
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced an Indian national to 90 months in federal prison for his involvement in an imposter scheme to defraud 11 identified victims, including elderly residents from Edwardsville and Effingham, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri.
Ligneshkumar H. Patel, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and financial institution fraud and two counts of wire fraud. The judge ordered him to pay more than $2 million in restitution.
“Imposter scams are international conspiracies often using U.S.-based money mules to meet victims in person to take their money,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes these fraudsters aggressively, and anyone who targets elderly victims will face certain justice.”
An imposter scam occurs when a scammer lies to victims and impersonates law enforcement or a federal official to defraud people into giving them money, access to financial accounts or other personal information. In this case, Patel’s conspirators convinced the victims they needed to hand over their assets for protection.
According to court documents, Patel drove to the residences of at least 11 elderly victims in five states to steal their assets totaling $2,231,216.99. Patel worked within a major conspiracy that included at least 85 additional victims with an intended loss of more than $6.9 million.
“This case highlights the serious consequences for individuals who prey on the elderly through sophisticated fraud schemes,” said Matthew J. Scarpino, special agent in charge of HSI Chicago. “HSI remains dedicated to protecting our communities from financial crimes and ensuring that those responsible are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Patel acted as a courier or “money mule,” and admitted to picking up money and gold from victims in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin to fuel the conspiracy.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Edwardsville Police Department contributed to the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Reed prosecuted the case.
Winslow man arrested for DUI.
On December 9, 2025, at 9:50 p.m. Gibson County deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Copper in color 1994 Ford F150 for running a stop sign near the intersection of Emerson and Race Street. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputies detected multiple clues that the driver was under the influence. At that point they began a DUI investigation. Once the inquiry was completed Deputy Shawn Holmes placed the driver, 27-year-old Dylan Evans of Winslow into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated.
Deputy Wyatt Hunt assisted Deputy Holmes in his investigation.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Local Student Achieves Top ACT Score
Mt. Carmel High School Senior Rhett Andrews, the son of Ryan and Laurie Andrews, has earned the highest possible ACT Composite score of 36 on the ACT test. He has also received the Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Rhett is the President of the National Honor Society, Secretary of Student Council, and a leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Rhett is also a three sport athlete playing varsity football, basketball, and track.
About one-quarter of 1% of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2024, only 3,041 out of 1.37 million students who took the ACT earned a top composite score of 36.
The ACT test consists of section tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student’s Composite score is the average of the four section test scores. The score for ACT’s optional writing test is reported separately and is not included in the ACT Composite score.
The ACT test is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students should have had the opportunity to learn in school. Students who earn a top Composite score have likely mastered all the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in first-year college courses in the core subject areas.
ACT test scores are accepted by major four-year colleges and universities across the U.S., and they are one of the many criteria that inform admissions, scholarship award, and course placement decisions.
Pictured with Rhett are: Aaron Croft District 348 Testing Director
and
Amy Duckworth MCHS Principal
County Commissioners Table Decision On Solar Project
The Wabash County Commissioners have delayed action on a proposal to build a large-scale solar farm in rural Wabash County.
A standing-room-only crowd filled the Wabash County courtroom Monday afternoon for a public hearing on an application from RWE to construct a 425-megawatt solar farm. Numerous representatives from the company were on hand to answer questions.
According to RWE, nearly 6,000 acres near the former Friendsville Mine have been leased for the project, with solar panels planned for about 3,000 acres. Roughly 75 percent of that land sits on reclaimed mine ground. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue through the fourth quarter of 2028. The company says the project would generate enough power for 68,000 homes per year.
If approved, the solar farm would create around 300 construction jobs, but only four full-time positions once the site is operational.
Residents raised a wide range of concerns during the hearing, while supporters, including AEA President Craig Newman and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lesley Hipsher, said the project would provide a significant economic boost to the community.
Commissioners had originally planned to hold a special meeting immediately after the hearing to vote on the application, but instead tabled the decision. They said they want additional time to gather information requested by attendees that was not immediately available. The matter is now expected to be taken up again at the next commissioners meeting on Monday.
More information on the project can be found via these links:
https://americas.rwe.com/our-energy/solar-energy/solar-projects-and-locations/friendsville-solar/
The hearing can be heard here…
RWE’s Matthew Spaccapaniccia addresses the standing room only crowd at Monday’s public hearing.
Owensville man arrested on Domestic Battery charge
On December 6, 2025, at 10:59 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of a disturbance in the 6700 block of West 400 South. Deputies Wes Baumgart and Quinten Might were dispatched to the scene. Upon arriving at the scene deputies investigated the incident and had an ambulance come to the scene to treat a person involved in the incident. At the end of the investigation Deputy Wes Baumgart placed 31-year-old Austin Martin of Owensville into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving Mr. Martin was charged with Domestic Battery.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
