Two Linton men were arrested after a man reported people were on his property and had busted up his fence. Both suspects were scheduled into court and both have two criminal cases pending against them, similar but slightly different situations.

Paul Gene Goodman, now 23, and Wyatt Franklin, 22, both from Linton, were arrested on Thursday, July 12.

Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Davis Aerne was dispatched around 1:30 that morning to a residence on North County Road 1240 West, in the area of Buck Creek Estates, after a man called to report he found several individuals on his property and they had punched holes in his fence. The man knew the name of one of the suspects, Wyatt Franklin.

Deputy Aerne learned Franklin was driving a black 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck with a “Steelers” logo on the back window. He was watching for it as he drove to the man’s home. GCSD Sgt. Bobby Pierce and Deputy Heather Wood also responded to the area and were looking for the truck.

When Deputy Aerne arrived, he spoke to the residents and one said they witnessed Franklin punching out panels in a privacy fence, breaking slats close to the house and slats farther away. Aerne said he saw a large section of fence that appeared to have been pushed and one side had separated from the rest of the fence. The resident said he told Franklin to leave the property.

Another witness at the home said they recognized Paul Goodman as one of the suspects and the deputy learned one of them saw Goodman getting into a vehicle in the driveway and attempt to start it. The vehicle was owned by someone who has a physical/medical issue with a wrist and sometimes cannot take the keys out of the ignition. The resident said they told Goodman to get out of the vehicle, and he did.  

While Aerne was on the scene, he heard Sgt. Pierce on the radio attempting to initiate a traffic stop on the truck. Then Aerne heard sirens and saw flashing lights – the suspect vehicle was headed his way with deputies behind it.

Aerne activated the lights on his patrol vehicle which was parked on the side of the road. The truck showed no sign of stopping as it approached. Aerne explained he drew his firearm and stood behind his patrol vehicle ordering the driver to stop. The driver did stop, and turned the vehicle off.

Franklin, the driver, and Goodman, the passenger, were both placed in restraints and detained.

The officers reported Franklin refused to speak to them and Goodman was uncooperative, became aggressive and was verbally abusive.

When criminal charges were filed against the two men, Deputy Heather Wood reported that when the traffic stop was initiated on the truck, the driver did not stop after the lights and sirens were on, that it turned twice and did not use a turn signal and still did not come to a stop until it reached Deputy Aerne’s location.

In addition, Deputy Wood prepared a probable cause affidavit accusing Franklin of driving while intoxicated. She reported detecting the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Franklin, and that his speech was slurred, his balance was poor and his attitude was abusive.

Franklin allegedly failed standard field sobriety tests administered by Sgt. Pierce.

He was transported to the Greene County Jail where he agreed to a chemical test by Sgt. Pierce. Wood reported the results showed that at 4:44 a.m. Franklin had a blood-alcohol concentration of .129. The legal limit is .08.  

Goodman was booked into jail by Deputy Aerne around 4:30 a.m.

Franklin was booked into jail by Deputy Wood around 5:20 a.m.

Cases involving Franklin

Two criminal cases have been filed against Franklin.

In one, he’s being charged with criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor.

In the other, he’s being charged with:

• Resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony,
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor,
• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, and
  Operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least .08 but less than .15, a Class C misdemeanor.

Franklin was due to appear in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing on Thursday, but he requested a continuance and his hearing has been rescheduled for August 13.

Cases involving Goodman

Goodman also has two cases pending against him.

One new case was filed against Goodman as a result of this incident, charging him with unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, a Class B misdemeanor.

In this case, he was scheduled to appear in court for his initial hearing on Thursday.

But in another previous case unrelated to this incident, a petition to revoke his suspended sentence has been filed.

On May 30, Goodman was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor, following an arrest by Linton Police Officer Indiana Miller.

Goodman was sentenced to 60 days in the Greene County Jail with all suspended except for six days. He was placed on probation for 359 days.

On Tuesday, Greene County Probation filed the petition to revoke explaining that Goodman had violated the terms of his probation.

According to a probation officer, the unauthorized entry into another person’s vehicle is a violation plus he allegedly failed drug screen tests on June 26, testing positive for the consumption of alcohol as well as marijuana. Then on July 3, he allegedly failed another drug screen test, testing positive for the consumption of alcohol.

Goodman had bonded out of jail, but on Wednesday, a warrant was issued for his arrest on the petition to revoke.