Ex-County Inmate, Now In Prison, Faces More Charges
Ex-County Inmate, Now In Prison, Faces More Charges
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Ex-County Inmate, Now In Prison, Faces More ChargesA former Kosciusko County Jail inmate had to be brought back to the county from the Branchville prison to face charges stemming from a November incident involving drunken inmates.
James Paul Grothaus, 25, of 127 S. Jefferson St., Cromwell, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 6:07 p.m. Tuesday for battery by bodily waste with a preliminary bond of $5,000 surety and $250 cash.
Court documents filed in November list the charges against him as battery by bodily waste, a level 6 felony, and resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.
He is being housed in the Branchville Correctional Facility. An initial hearing was scheduled on the pending charges for 8:15 a.m. today. The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office was ordered to transport him from the Indiana Department of Corrections Branchville facility to Kosciusko County Circuit Court for today’s initial hearing.
On Nov. 5, officers responded to intoxicated inmates in “J” block in the KCJ. Officers went to “J” block and began administering portable breath tests. Several inmates tested positive for alcohol in their systems and were told to gather their belongings to move to the disciplinary block.
Grothaus refused to obey commands and began throwing items inside the day room of “J” block.
Officers entered “J” block and Grothaus retreated to his cell and refused to obey commands of officers, according to court documents. After receiving no cooperation, officers attempted to gain control of Grothaus, but Grothaus resisted officers and was tased.
Officers were able to control Grothaus and placed him in the jail restraint chair. During the struggle, Grothaus’ nose began to bleed. He spit blood on officer Mariah Rumple’s face and continued spitting blood on the floor.
