***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2016

KENNETH GELJACK, JR. FOUND GUILTY OF HABITUAL TRAFFIC VIOLATOR – LIFE, RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH A VEHICLE, FALSE INFORMING AND RECKLESS DRIVING.

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

On January 22, 2015, the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office charged Kenneth Geljack, Jr. with Habitual Traffic Violator – Life, Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, False Informing, and Reckless Driving after he led the Indiana State Police and the Elkhart City Police Department on a vehicle chase through Elkhart on January 19, 2015. Geljack was able to elude police and ditch his truck, but was located on foot just blocks away from the abandoned truck and the trooper who initially stopped Geljack immediately recognized him as the driver of the truck.

A jury trial took place from February 15, 2016 through February 17, 2016 in the Elkhart Circuit Court. The State’s case in chief showed that Trooper Price had pulled Geljack over after running a license plate check and discovering that Geljack had a license status of Habitual Traffic Violator – Life. Trooper Price spoke with Geljack for a couple of minutes and had Geljack write down his name and date of birth on the truck’s registration. Trooper Price discovered Geljack had written down false information and as Trooper Price was checking the information in his squad car, Geljack took off in his truck. Geljack drove incredibly recklessly during the pursuit and was able to get away, briefly. Officer Lanzen located the abandoned truck and shortly thereafter Officer Gruber located Geljack on foot, not wearing a coat in the middle of January, sweating, and trying to hide from police.

The defense put on witnesses claiming that it was Geljack’s fiancé that had actually been the one driving and had fled from the police. The jury was easily able to see through the inconsistencies in the fiancé’s story and, after deliberating for approximately 56 minutes, found Geljack guilty on all counts. Sentencing is scheduled for March 17, 2016 at 11:00am in Elkhart Superior Court 4.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”