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By Ken Kosky | Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | (5 comment(s))
VALPARAISO
42-year-old charged with child sex crime
A 42-year-old Westville man is accused of taking two girls to a local church, giving them alcohol and involving each in a sexual encounter.
The girls told police they agreed through text messages to perform sexual acts for Brian K. Thornton, of 925 Sundew Drive, in return for four bottles of vodka.
Thornton reportedly took the girls to Victory Christian Academy, 360 N. County Road 325 East, where he had sex with a 13-year-old girl and watched the other undress. The girls know Thornton from church and their neighborhood.
Thornton is charged with child molesting and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
VALPARAISO
2 more charged in YMCA check scam
Two more people have been charged in a forgery scam involving fake Valparaiso YMCA payroll checks.
George Adkins, 21, of 506 Willow Drive in Westville, was charged with two felony counts of fraud on a financial institution.
Melanie Logan, 23, was charged with a felony count of aiding in a theft.
Adkins is accused of presenting fraudulent checks to two local branches of Centier Bank.
Logan is accused of helping Erik Nasserjah steal $969 from Centier Bank.
Nasserjah is accused of borrowing a Valparaiso YMCA check and using a computer to alter it, and manufacturing and cashing numerous checks.
CHESTERTON
Girl hit by car on the way to homecoming
An 11-year-old girl was struck by a car Friday evening near the high school while on her way to the homecoming football game.
Portage resident Beatrice Dixon told police she was driving northbound on 11th Street near the football stadium when Kelly Arlow, of Porter, ran from behind a southbound car and into the path of her vehicle.
Dixon said she was traveling 15 mph due to the congestion but was unable to stop in enough time to avoid hitting the girl.
Arlow was transported to the hospital, but details of her condition were not available Monday.
VALPARAISO
Man charged with wrecking stolen car
A 30-year-old man told police he stole and wrecked a car Sunday morning after hearing voices in his head.
Michael Sepke, of 1710 Vale Park Road, said he was returning from buying cigarettes when he passed by a car near Oil N Go, 2806 Calumet Ave.
He said he heard voices telling him both to steal and refrain from stealing the car. He opted to take the car and, after turning on to Vale Park, intentionally crashed it into a pole, police said.
Police said they found Sepke walking away from the accident, and he was arrested on preliminary charges of auto theft and leaving the scene of a property damage crash. The stolen vehicle was registered to Jay Costas Co.
CENTER TOWNSHIP
MONDAY
Theft. A cell phone and charger were reported stolen from a vehicle in the 500 block of Fleetwood Drive.
CHESTERTON
FRIDAY
Theft. A $65 trash can was reported stolen from the 200 block of West Porter Avenue.
Theft. Several music CDs and a bag containing textbooks were reported stolen from the 400 block of 14th Street.
SUNDAY
Counterfeiting. A counterfeit $20 bill was recovered from a customer at Dairy Queen, 552 Indian Boundary Road.
Theft. A red Ohio State flag, with a large O and the words Go Bucs, was reported stolen from a porch in the 500 block of Broadway.
PINE TOWNSHIP
SUNDAY
Theft. A catalytic converter was reported stolen from a vehicle at the Calumet Trail parking lot near County Line Road.
PORTAGE TOWNSHIP
SATURDAY
Criminal mischief. A telephone line was reported cut outside a home in the 20 block of Rushingwater Drive.
PORTER TOWNSHIP
SATURDAY
Criminal mischief. A stop sign at County Road 500 West and Meadow Wood Drive was reportedly painted black.
Criminal mischief. A shed door in the 400 block of Meadow Wood Drive was reportedly painted black.
VALPARAISO
SATURDAY
Vandalism. A car was reportedly damaged with a piece of wood in the 2500 block of Sears Street.
Vandalism. A rear patio door was damaged at a home in the 2700 block of Virginia Park Drive.
Vandalism. A car was struck by another in the parking lot of the Cinemark Theatre.
Vandalism. A semitrailer reportedly was struck by another vehicle in the parking lot of the Cinemark Theatre.
SUNDAY
Vandalism. Graffiti, possibly gang-related, was discovered on asphalt in an alley in the 400 block of Morgan Boulevard.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
SATURDAY
Attempted burglary. A homeowner reportedly interrupted a burglary in the 100 block of Jamestown Avenue.
SUNDAY
Criminal mischief. A sliding door was reported damaged in the 400 block of Small Pond Court.
ARRESTS
Friday to Monday
Alcohol charge | Bernita Lipscomb, 20, Gary
Battery | Brian Risner, 23, 2237 Willowcreek, Portage; Heather Cannon, 19, 1714 N. Campbell St., Valparaiso; Charles Pendley, 19, 212 Camelot Estate, Portage; Daniel Smith, 32, Hobart; Angelo Lara, 40, 203 Camelot, Portage; Jonathan Proudfoot, 37, 1806 Dainesway, Valparaiso; Martin Sandoval, 63, 96 E. County Road 1100 North, Chesterton
Battery, disorderly conduct | Charles Marcinko, 49, 1714 N. Campbell St., Valparaiso
Battery, drug paraphernalia | Michael Cook Jr., 44, Michigan City
Battery, strangulation | Paul Orozco, 19, 3288 Starboard Way, Portage
Criminal trespass, false reporting | Daniel Collazo, 31, 3078 Springmill, Portage
Dealing cocaine | Terrence Creal, 27, Gary
Driving while suspended | Joslyn Ross, 20, Michigan City
Drunken driving | Jeffrey Grecco, 34, Westville; Gina Fink, 19, 201 Fordwick Lane, Valparaiso; Anthony McBride, 22, Gary; James Ballard, 69, 101 Rome Blvd., Hebron; Olivia Ellison, 23, Michigan City; Amanda Gano, 28, 202 Cambridge Ave., Chesterton; Harry Kuehl, 47, 230 Kristin Court, Valparaiso; Joseph Hulse, 26, 2958 Arlene, Portage
Drunken driving, driving while suspended | Boyd Briggs, 25, 2867 Edgewood, Portage
Drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident | Laura Vogler, 23, 158 S. College Ave., Valparaiso
Failure to appear | Michael Nelson, 44, Elkhart; April Brown, 19, Lake Station; Matthew Dominion, 36, 5588 Redwood Ave., Portage; Christopher Weck, 38, 203 Arrowhead Trail, Porter; Lacey Trzeciak, 35, 1921 Strawberry, Portage; Dana Looney, 29, 5464 Osage, Portage; Patrick Anstead, 30, 373 E. County Road 300 South, Valparaiso; Tremell McElroy, 20, 1710 Vale Park Road, Valparaiso
Failure to comply | Shane Whitaker, 32, Fort Wayne; Cheryl Higer, 58, 2304 Dunwoody Drive, Valparaiso; Daryl Pressel, 37, 105 E. Alice St., Kouts; Eric Rivera, 37, 417 Saginaw Drive, Valparaiso
False reporting | Regina Degener, 23, 80 E. Oakhill Road, Porter
Hold | Frank Caraballo, 35, Lake Station
Interference with reporting a crime, criminal mischief, battery | Charles Hall Jr., 24, 516 Serenity Terrace, Portage
Intimidation | Daniel Fredericks, 18, 427 W. County Road 600 North, Valparaiso
Leaving the scene of an accident | Portia Jerich, 29, 3306 Delta, Portage; Joseph Coday, 22, 122 Coral, Portage
Possession of cocaine | Wilfred Anderson, 41, Gary
Possession of marijuana, driving while suspended | Darryl Anderson Jr., 21, Merrillville
Possession of paraphernalia | Kevin Clowers, 23, 33 S. County Road 100 West, Valparaiso
Possession of stolen property | Steven Whittmore, 19, 3005 Prentiss Drive, Valparaiso
Public intoxication | Sunsook Jun, 49, 2707 Virginia Park, Valparaiso
Public intoxication, disorderly conduct | John Schmidt, 30, Lake Station
Public intoxication, failure to appear | Carlos Mangual, 58, 6435 Evergreen, Portage
Theft | Danielle McKean, 19, 205 E. Chicago St., Valparaiso; Rosalie Woodford, 49, Chicago; Jaron Morris, 20, Chicago
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To WHY wrote on Sep 30, 2008 2:10 PM:
Actually she just came back from marching in the Homecoming Parade that Chesterton High School has every year - she is a cheerleader for Pop Warner.
What I want to know is WHY weren't her parents keeping a better eye on her? "
why not wrote on Sep 30, 2008 11:43 AM:
football game wrote on Sep 30, 2008 11:25 AM:
Try again wrote on Sep 30, 2008 11:16 AM:
why wrote on Sep 30, 2008 10:53 AM: