Wanda English Burnett - Editor
A move that has the town of Holton
buzzing is the arrest of the marshal, Billey Joe Moore. The
39-year-old marshal just received full-time status from the
Holton Town Council this year and was providing police protection
for the town.
Information from the Indiana State Police notes that Moore was
arrested on one count of Transferring Ownership of a Handgun
to a Felon, a Class C Felony. The arrest stems from an investigation
that began in June of 2006. Moore is alleged to have provided
a handgun to an individual whom he knew had been convicted of
a felony, the press release says.
There will be a special prosecutor in this matter due to Moore
being a law enforcement officer in Ripley County. Melvin Wilhelm,
prosecutor for Franklin County has been appointed.
Moore was arrested last Thursday, January 25 at his home without
incident and taken to the Ripley County Jail. He appeared in
Ripley Circuit Court the same day for his initial hearing where
bond was set at $15,000. He bonded out shortly after the hearing.
Moore has obtained Bradley A. Johnson, an attorney with Dove
and Johnson at North Vernon, and while he cant talk about
the pending case, notes, Things arent always as
they seem. Moore adamantly maintains his innocence in
this case and both he and his attorney look forward to finding
justice in the courtroom.
Moore was placed on desk duty according to Town Attorney Larry
Eaton.