On 5/23/25, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Craig A. Leeper, age 37, of Mt. Carmel, for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol & Drugs following a traffic stop on an electric scooter at 13th & Chestnut Street. Before the stop, the officer observed the scooter run a stop sign at 13th & Mulberry Street. In speaking to the driver, identified as Leeper, the officer found suspicion that he was under the influence of a combination of substances. Leeper agreed to submit to a roadside sobriety check where clues to indicate impairment were observed. Leeper was arrested and transported to the Wabash County Jail for DUI processing. Leeper was later released on a Notice to Appear.
Allendale School Board Notes
The board met tonight for their May monthly session…
Mt. Carmel Man Sentenced To 5 1/2 Years In DOC On Agg. Battery Charge
Kelli Storckman, Wabash County State’s Attorney, reports that on May 20, 2025, Anthony S. Harms, a 41-year-old Mt. Carmel, Illinois man, was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in the Department of Corrections, to be followed by 6 months of mandatory supervised release by the Honorable Circuit Judge William C. Hudson in Wabash County Circuit Court.
State’s Attorney Storckman advises that the Defendant was charged on September 29, 2022, with Aggravated Battery, a Class 3 Felony, following a Mt. Carmel Police Department investigation into a physical altercation occurring at a Pear Street, Mt. Carmel residence. Information gathered during the investigation revealed that Harms had struck an adult male in the face causing serious injury to the victim. Harms has been in the custody of Indiana DOC since 2022 on unrelated charges.
Francisco man arrested on drug and neglect charges
On May 20, 2025, at 4:52 p.m. Deputies with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant on the Michael B. Hill residence located at 6036 E 500 North near Wheeling, Indiana. Upon arriving at the residence a search of the residence and interviews of all individuals were conducted by law enforcement officers. At the conclusion of the investigation 44-year-old Michael B. Hill was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Detention Center. Upon arriving at the detention center Mr. Hill was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamines, and Neglect of a Defendant.
Arresting Officer Eric Powell was assisted by multiple Deputies with the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District Ready For End Of School Year
With less than a week left in the school year, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer told the school board Monday that everyone is looking forward to the summer break…
The last day of school in District #348 is next Tuesday. The district used the maximum number of snow days this year and took a day off for the girls basketball state tournament causing the school year to be extended past Memorial Day by one day.
MCHS Principal Explains Streamlined Honors Night To School Board
After shortening the length of this month’s honors night at Mt. Carmel High School, principal Amy Duckworth told the District #348 school board Monday evening that more changes are in store for the 2026 program…
Duckworth said next year’s honor’s night will be moved to a daytime event allowing students to attend and see the variety of awards to strive for. Duckworth also said the May 10th graduation ceremony was well received with a packed gymnasium witnessing the 95 MCHS graduates receiving their diplomas.
Harms Sentenced To 6 Years In DOC On Burglary Charge
A 37 year old Mt. Carmel man has been sentenced to 6 years in prison after being linked to a March vehicle break in. State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman reports that David Harms was charged on March 12th with a Class 3 felony burglary count following a Mt. Carmel Police Department investigation to a vehicle break in the 500 block of Chestnut Street. During the investigation, Harms attempted to run from an MCPD officer who deployed his TASER to apprehend the suspect. Storckman said during that investigation that Harms had been arrested, processed, and released for possession of drug paraphernalia earlier in the evening and had then entered the victim’s vehicle as he walked from the jail back to his vehicle. After his 6 year prison term, Harms will be on 6 months of mandatory supervised release.
District #348 May 2025 Personnel Matters
The school board acted on these items at Monday’s meeting.
Extra patrol of property nets arrest of two
On May 18, 2025, at 1:45 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted an extra patrol of a residence on State Road 65 near Old Petersburg Road. While conducting the check Deputy Hunt located two individuals on the property and began an investigation after he found them on the property that was marked No Trespassing and had a physical barrier barring people coming onto the property. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Hunt placed 39-year-old Jesse Helton of Vincennes and 54-year-old Tempa Hinkle of Princeton into custody and transported them to the Gibson County Jail.
Upon arriving at the Jal Mr. Helton was charged with Possession of Methamphetamines, Criminal Trespass, and Refusal to Identify. Ms. Hinkle was charged with Criminal Trespass.
Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation were Deputy Eric Powell and Indiana State Trooper Kincaid.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
Evansville man arrested for OWI
On May 18, 2025, at approximately 5:44 p.m. Gibson County Deputy Eric Powell conducted a traffic stop on US 41 near County Road 800 South after observing a White Jeep Patriot speeding. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Powell detected the odor of raw Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. While speaking with the driver 30-year-old Ciaran P. McCall of Evansville Deputy Powell detected clues that the driver may be under the influence. At that point he began a roadside OWI investigation. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Powell transported Mr. McCall to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana.
Assisting Deputy Powell in his investigation were Deputies Wyatt Hunt and Wes Baumgart. Also assisting in the investigation was Princeton Officer David Jones.
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
