Driver who took car to Kentucky for a test drive is sentenced

A Bloomfield man, who took a Honda CRV out for a test drive from a car dealership in Linton and didn’t return, did not post bond after his arrest for auto theft in January. Now he’s admitted guilt and been sentenced.

Joseph Kenneth Myers

Joseph Kenneth Myers, 29, Bloomfield, was arrested by Officer Debbie McDonald of the Linton Police Department on Friday, January 22, four days after he took off in the vehicle.

According to LPD Officer Joseph Riley, the investigating officer, dispatch at the police department got a call from the Bob Walters car dealership in Linton around 6 p.m. on Monday, January 18. An employee said Joseph Myers had taken a vehicle out for a test drive and had not returned.

The vehicle was a white 2013 Honda CRZ with a dealer’s plate. Myers filled out a test drive form, left his driver’s license at the dealership and took off for a test drive. At the time the dealership contacted police, Myers had been gone for several hours and the dealership staff had attempted to contact him with no success.

Nearly four days later, at 1:30 p.m. Friday, the vehicle was located at the South Side Express gas station in Linton and Officer McDonald was dispatched.

When she arrived, Officer McDonald found and stopped the vehicle and Myers, who was detained and transported to the police department. During an interview, Myers allegedly said he was not familiar with how buying a car from a lot works and that he wasn’t aware he could not drive the vehicle for as long as he wanted.

Myers allegedly said he drove the Honda to Kentucky and that’s why he was gone for such a long time but when he was stopped by Officer McDonald, he was on his way to return it.

Myers was booked into the Greene County Jail at 3:24 p.m. His bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed but he did not post bond and has remained in the Greene County Jail.

When he appeared in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing, he was formally charged with auto theft, a Level 6 felony.

By mid-March, Myers had entered into a negotiated plea agreement and during a change of plea and sentencing hearing last Thursday morning, March 18, he changed his plea to guilty.

Myers was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail. He was given 55 days credit for jail time already served, he will be allowed good-time credit if eligible, and he will be allowed to serve the rest of his time on work release as long as he’s eligible for the program.