GreeneStreets. Feature photo of a back country road in Greene County, Indiana.


Motion to reduce bond is denied for convicted sex offender

A warrant was issued in late November for a convicted sex offender whose whereabouts were unknown. He’s since been located, arrested and charged with failure to register.

Joshua James McKenzie

Joshua James McKenzie

Joshua James McKenzie, 28, Jasonville, was arrested by Sgt. Brian Pilant of the Jasonville Police Department on Monday, December 23.

McKenzie was convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor in Monroe County on February 9, 2012. He was sentenced to five years and is required to register on Indiana’s Sex and Violent Offender Registry for 10 years after he was released. This requirement does not end until August 21, 2027.

A warrant was issued for McKenzie’s arrest after Det. Shawn Cullison of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and other deputies were unable to locate McKenzie.

In mid-September, Deputy Bruce Porter went to a residence on North County Road 1420 West and spoke to a woman who said McKenzie had not lived there for the previous 19 days. When Det. Cullison visited the residence again, it appeared nobody was living there. In mid-November, he talked to someone who bought the property on October 1 and said nobody had been living there since.

A criminal case was then filed against McKenzie and the warrant was issued on November 21.

When McKenzie was taken into custody and booked into the Greene County Jail, his bond was set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He did not post bond.

When he appeared in Greene Superior Court last Thursday, January 2, for his initial hearing, a public defender was appointed to represent McKenzie and he was charged with failure to register as a sex offender, a Level 6 felony.

The next day, McKenzie’s attorney filed a motion to reduce the bond but this week, on Monday, January 6, a judge denied the motion. As of early today, Wednesday, January 8, McKenzie was still in the Greene County Jail.