Waggoner Seeks Second Term As County Prosecutor

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer-

Charles R. Waggoner announced he is seeking re-election as Kosciusko County prosecuting attorney.

Waggoner, 51, a Republican, was elected in 1998.

A Franklin native, Waggoner became interested in the law as an Indiana State Trooper.

"I testified during some interesting corruption cases," he said recently, "and got to know some really good prosecutors."

Waggoner began his 20-year career with the state police as a dispatcher, promoted to trooper in 1972. In 1980 the Federal Bureau of Investigation invited then-Sgt. Waggoner to spend a semester of study at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

He completed his law degree at the Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, while still with the state police. In 1989 he passed the bar and served as assistant to ISP's commander of the investigation division.

He came to Warsaw in 1991 when he accepted a position as director of corporate security (Worldwide) for the Zimmer Division of Bristol-Myers Squibb.

While serving as chief deputy prosecuting attorney, he also worked in the Lightfoot and Waggoner law office.

Asked which case has been the most interesting, Waggoner said the one he is presently prosecuting, the Kathy Vroman murder. Prior to the current case, Waggoner cited the murder of Jamie Sloan, which resulted in a 60-year prison term for Christopher Thompson. Thompson was sentenced in April 2000.

"Over the past three years, our office has averaged more than 475 felony cases and more than 2,250 misdemeanor cases per year," Waggoner said.

"Our office has provided training for and has participated in training with law enforcement officers, conservation officers, reserve police officers and with state and federal agencies focused on homeland defense," Waggoner said. "As an example, local training in the investigation of drug labs brought about quick returns. Within two weeks, officers had identified and shut down several 'methamphetamine labs.' By the end of the year, a large number of 'meth labs' had been dismantled."

He lists his other accomplishments as prosecuting more than 40 felony non-support cases in 2001. Since 2000, the Child Support Enforcement office has helped collect more than $5.5 million in child support. More than $19 million has been collected during a two year period.

"We have upgraded the computer tracking of bad checks. In the past 12 months we have collected more than $250,000 for Kosciusko County businesses."

More than $30,000 in user fees was generated from the bad check collection which goes to the county general fund.

Waggoner was recently elected by the Indiana prosecutors to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of their association. He was first elected to the executive board of the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Inc. in 2000.

When the Justice Building expansion is complete the prosecutor's office will move to the clerk's office and "around the corner" to occupy the offices of Judge Sutton.

The Waggoner family resides in Warsaw. Chuck's wife, Tj, is a Kosciusko County Head Start Coordinator. They have two children in college, Amy, 22, and Brad, 20 and Caris, 11, at home.

In addition to his duties as prosecutor, Waggoner is an elder and secretary of the Warsaw Community Church elder board; a Sunday school teacher and a Step Ahead Council board member. He has also served as a youth soccer coach for the local YMCA and Kosciusko County Soccer League.

Waggoner's campaign committee is headed by co-chairmen Denny Wilson and Dr. Douglas Sawyer. The Waggoner for Prosecutor Committee Treasurer is Jim Howard.

On the Net:

www.ncrs.org/ votewaggoner [[In-content Ad]]

Charles R. Waggoner announced he is seeking re-election as Kosciusko County prosecuting attorney.

Waggoner, 51, a Republican, was elected in 1998.

A Franklin native, Waggoner became interested in the law as an Indiana State Trooper.

"I testified during some interesting corruption cases," he said recently, "and got to know some really good prosecutors."

Waggoner began his 20-year career with the state police as a dispatcher, promoted to trooper in 1972. In 1980 the Federal Bureau of Investigation invited then-Sgt. Waggoner to spend a semester of study at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.

He completed his law degree at the Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, while still with the state police. In 1989 he passed the bar and served as assistant to ISP's commander of the investigation division.

He came to Warsaw in 1991 when he accepted a position as director of corporate security (Worldwide) for the Zimmer Division of Bristol-Myers Squibb.

While serving as chief deputy prosecuting attorney, he also worked in the Lightfoot and Waggoner law office.

Asked which case has been the most interesting, Waggoner said the one he is presently prosecuting, the Kathy Vroman murder. Prior to the current case, Waggoner cited the murder of Jamie Sloan, which resulted in a 60-year prison term for Christopher Thompson. Thompson was sentenced in April 2000.

"Over the past three years, our office has averaged more than 475 felony cases and more than 2,250 misdemeanor cases per year," Waggoner said.

"Our office has provided training for and has participated in training with law enforcement officers, conservation officers, reserve police officers and with state and federal agencies focused on homeland defense," Waggoner said. "As an example, local training in the investigation of drug labs brought about quick returns. Within two weeks, officers had identified and shut down several 'methamphetamine labs.' By the end of the year, a large number of 'meth labs' had been dismantled."

He lists his other accomplishments as prosecuting more than 40 felony non-support cases in 2001. Since 2000, the Child Support Enforcement office has helped collect more than $5.5 million in child support. More than $19 million has been collected during a two year period.

"We have upgraded the computer tracking of bad checks. In the past 12 months we have collected more than $250,000 for Kosciusko County businesses."

More than $30,000 in user fees was generated from the bad check collection which goes to the county general fund.

Waggoner was recently elected by the Indiana prosecutors to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of their association. He was first elected to the executive board of the Association of Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Inc. in 2000.

When the Justice Building expansion is complete the prosecutor's office will move to the clerk's office and "around the corner" to occupy the offices of Judge Sutton.

The Waggoner family resides in Warsaw. Chuck's wife, Tj, is a Kosciusko County Head Start Coordinator. They have two children in college, Amy, 22, and Brad, 20 and Caris, 11, at home.

In addition to his duties as prosecutor, Waggoner is an elder and secretary of the Warsaw Community Church elder board; a Sunday school teacher and a Step Ahead Council board member. He has also served as a youth soccer coach for the local YMCA and Kosciusko County Soccer League.

Waggoner's campaign committee is headed by co-chairmen Denny Wilson and Dr. Douglas Sawyer. The Waggoner for Prosecutor Committee Treasurer is Jim Howard.

On the Net:

www.ncrs.org/ votewaggoner [[In-content Ad]]

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Shed Burning Discussed At Burket Council Meeting
BURKET – A concern about a property owner burning a shed was brought up during the Burket Town Council meeting Thursday.

County Council Adopts 2025 Budget
Kosciusko County Council wrapped up the county’s 2025 budget by adopting the ordinance for it on second reading Thursday evening. The first reading of the budget ordinance was held Sept. 12.

TVHS Renovations Expected To Be ‘Substantially Complete” By Month’s End
AKRON — Work on Tippecanoe Valley High School's renovation project should be "substantially complete" by the end of October, said The Skillman Corp. Project Manager Scott Rogers.

Warsaw Officer Uses Her Own Story To Encourage High School Female Students
Warsaw Police Department officer Paige Wood said she always knew she wanted to be in law enforcement.

Merit Board Encourages Public To Attend KCRP Meeting
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Merit Board invites the public to participate in a Kosciusko County Recovery Program meeting.