Man charged with battery, criminal mischief and theft of a Galaxy tablet

He was a no-show at two initial hearings and was arrested twice before he was finally charged with battery, theft and criminal mischief during the third scheduled hearing last Thursday.

Brandon Edmond Watson

Brandon Edmond Watson, 39, of Terre Haute, was allegedly involved in an incident last April that was investigated by Deputy Jordan Gooding of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy Gooding was dispatched to the Linton area to look into a battery that was reported to have occurred at a residence on West County Road 450 North in late April. Watson was the suspect.

Deputy Gooding talked to a woman who allegedly said Watson had gone to her residence because he needed a place to stay and had nowhere else to go. She said he stayed one night then left then came back another day but that time had battered her and threatened her. She said during this situation, Watson had not attempted to have sex or ask for sex, but he had physically hurt her, had broken her cell phone and had taken her Galaxy tablet when he finally left.

Gooding also talked to friends of the woman and one was able to use an app to track the Galaxy tablet. When the tablet was turned on, the friend said it was located in the Switz City area. Deputies were able to determine an exact location.

GCSD Deputies Davis Aerne and Alan Jackson visited the location and at first were not able to make contact with anyone, but through a series of communications with the woman’s friend and an individual who resided in Switz City, they were able to determine Watson had taken the tablet to Switz City. The deputies were able to get hold of it and returned it to the owner. GCSD Sgt. Bobby Pierce also assisted in this investigation.

A criminal case was filed against Watson on May 9 and he was summoned to appear in court on June 24 for an initial hearing. He failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Watson was then taken into custody by GCSD Terry Wade on June 27. Watson was booked in to the Greene County Jail with bond set at $5,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He posted $500 cash, was released and given another court date.

When the court date rolled around on July 8, Watson again failed to appear and another warrant was issued that same day.

Watson was booked in again on Friday, August 16, and last Thursday, August 22, an initial hearing was successfully conducted.

Watson has now been charged with:

• Battery resulting in bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Theft, a Class A misdemeanor and

• Criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.

Watson’s bond was set at $10,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed but as of Wednesday, August 28, he had not yet posted bond and was still in jail.