Published: May 16, 2008 12:10 am            

Courts reduce Crouch's bonds

Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer said he objected to the degree of the bond reductions

Lebanon — The teen suspected of accidentally of shooting and killing a woman had his bonds reduced in two courts.

Corey Crouch, 19, of Thorntown, will need to pay $1,600 to get out of Boone County Jail. His bond was reduced from a no-bond status to $11,000 for his shooting case in Boone County Superior Court I and cut in half, to $500, in Boone County Superior Court II in his misdemeanor battery case.

Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer said he objected to the bond reductions, at least to the degree to what Crouch was requesting. In his battery case, Crouch requested the bond be reduced to $100 on Thursday.

Crouch is charged in Boone County Superior Court I with a Class C felony of reckless homicide, a Class C felony of involuntary manslaughter, a Class C felony of battery with a deadly weapon and a Class B misdemeanor of disorderly conduct. Should Crouch be found guilty on all four charges, he could face up to 24-1/2 years in prison and $31,000 in fines.

According to Boone County Sheriff Department reports, the shooting came happened late April 22 after Crouch attempted to put an end to a fight involving his sister, Myra Crouch, David Ehrie and John and Darla James in the 4000 block of North U.S. 52. The argument began when Ehrie, Darla’s ex-husband, accused the James couple of being intoxicated. Darla James was dropping off four children — the youngest one 6 and the oldest one 14 — at her ex-husband’s home. At some point, the fight became physical and Corey Crouch went into the house and got the handgun. At one point during the fight, Myra Crouch pointed a handgun at John James to end the fight.

BCSD Public Information Officer Chris Burcham reported that after Crouch came back outside, he fired a shot into the ground, then used the gun to hit John James in the head. Upon striking John James, the gun fired and shot Darla James in the head.

Ehrie, Myra Crouch and John James were all charged with Class B misdemeanors for disorderly conduct. Ehrie was also charged with a Class D felony for battery, Myra Crouch with a Class D felony for pointing a firearm and John James was a Class B misdemeanor for battery. Their cases are also in Superior Court I.

        

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