An Indiana State Police investigation into threats made against a judge in Greene County resulted in the arrest of a suspect last August. A special judge from Owen County was appointed to the case and a jury trial was scheduled. But this week, the man changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced.

Douglas Elson Steele, now 29, South Garrison Chapel Road, Bloomington, was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail on August 19, 2020.

Indiana State Police Trooper Michael Tummers was assigned to investigate a report of threats communicated to a judge in Greene County. His findings were submitted to Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw and on August 3, a criminal case was filed against Steele in Greene Circuit Court and a warrant issued for Steele’s arrest.

In a probable cause affidavit prepared by Trooper Tummers, he detailed the nature of the threats, what he learned about Steele and his effort to make contact with Steele, but information regarding the alleged victim was withheld except to say the victim serves as a judge.

Trooper Tummers said the alleged victim had received several emails from Steele who had a previous custody case involving Steele’s son in the judge’s courtroom, but the parties had since moved to Monroe County and the case had been transferred.

Then on Sunday, August 2, Steele’s son and two other children and their mother were reported missing in Monroe County. Law enforcement officers in Monroe County attempted to make contact with Steele at his residence but were not successful. After they left, Steele contacted Monroe County Dispatch in an emotional state, wanting to know why they had been at his residence. Then the mother and the children were safely located in Bloomington.

On the same day this incident occurred, Sunday, August 2, the judge in Greene County received an email from Steele. The email stated if the judge did not assist in finding his son and the others, “… I’m gonna do everything in my power and submit everything every second that I can to get you off that seat …” and that he prays for the judge’s sake that the child is not in any real danger or hurt somewhere “… because Greene County won’t even have a courthouse when I’m done seeing you I’m not even joking I cannot wait to see you I’m coming up there tomorrow if they haven’t found my son by tonight …”

The email was received around 1 p.m. Around 8 p.m., Trooper Tummers, along with several other troopers, arrived at Steele’s residence but were unable to make contact with Steele. There were no vehicles at the residence, blinds covered every window and nobody answered knocks on the door.

Trooper Tummers reported Steele’s criminal record included previous charges for burglary with assault in Florida and a pending case in Morgan County for possession of a firearm without a license within 500 feet of a school.

Trooper Tummers noted Steele might be in an emotional and mentally unstable state of mind and that he could possibly be in possession of firearms.

The day after the warrant was issued, Special Judge Lori Thatcher Quillen, Judge of Owen Circuit Court, was appointed to the case.

Following Steele’s arrest, when he appeared at his initial hearing on August 20, with Judge Thatcher Quillen presiding, Steele was charged with intimidation where victim is a judge, a Level 5 felony. A public defender was appointed to represent Steele and his bond was set at $10,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. Steele then posted $1,000 and was released from jail.

A jury trial was scheduled for March then canceled when Steele entered into a negotiated plea agreement.

On Tuesday morning, during a change of plea and sentencing hearing, Steele changed his plea to guilty of intimidation as a Class A misdemeanor – a lesser included offense.

In keeping with the terms of the agreement, Steele was sentenced to one year in the county jail with all but 10 days suspended. He was given credit for five days already served and will be on supervised probation for 355 days.