On December 18, 2023, at 6:38 p.m. Gibson County Sgt. Loren Barchett was dispatched to the 600 block of South Center Street in Fort Branch to investigate a disturbance. Upon arriving Sgt. Barchett spoke with the owner of the property and it was revealed that 76 year old Victor Sokeland had come onto the property after being trespassed from the property on a prior documented occasion. While on the property Mr. Sokeland vandalized the reporting party’s vehicle. Mr. Sokeland was located next door to the property and taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Criminal Trespass and Criminal Mischief. He remains in custody on a $650 bond.
Assisting Sgt. Barchett in his investigation was Sgt. Roger Ballard and Indiana State Trooper Tanner Hurley.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
