***MEDIA ADVISORY***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2014
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN FELONY CHARGES AGAINST TWO FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICERS
Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888
On Thursday, May 8, 2014 the Elkhart County prosecuting attorney filed criminal charges against two former Elkhart County corrections officers, Adrian J. Long and Aaron M. Vandekeere, for crimes related to their official duties and resulting from two independent investigations by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.
During April of 2014 corrections investigators with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation into an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship between a female inmate and Adrian Long, who at that time was employed as an Elkhart County corrections officer. Long has since resigned his position as a corrections officer. As a result of the investigation, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has charged Long with Sexual Misconduct by Service Provider with Detainee, a Class C felony. A Class C felony is punishable by up to 8 imprisonment. Long turned himself in and his bond is set at $20,000.00.
In a separate investigation in April 2014, corrections investigators with the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department developed information alleging that a corrections officer was offering to smuggle contraband into the Elkhart County Correctional Facility. During the course of the investigation, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from the Elkhart County Interdiction and Convert Enforcement (ICE) Unit. Through the investigation the Sheriff’s Department determined that Aaron M. Vandekeere was the corrections officer alleged to be engaged in the smuggling of contraband.
According to the investigation, Vandekeere allegedly offered to smuggle into the jail two packs of cigarettes, a lighter and/or a cell phone in exchange for money. Vandekeere allegedly contacted an undercover officer via telephone and met with the undercover officer on April 17, 2014 to acquire the contraband and payment. This contraband was then allegedly passed to an inmate in the jail.
Additionally, on April 24, 2014 Vandekeere again met with an undercover officer who provided Vandekeere with an operational cell phone and phone card. The following day Vandekeere allegedly brought the phone into the jail without authorization and provided it to an inmate. On May 9, 2014 Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department officers arrested Vandekeere, placing him into custody, and immediately terminated his employment as a corrections officer.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Elkhart County has charged Vandekeere with one count of Trafficking with an Inmate, a Class C felony and one count of Trafficking with an Inmate, a Class A misdemeanor. Additional charges are under consideration. Vandekeere faces up to 8 year on the C felony and up to one year on the Class A misdemeanor. Vandekeere’s bond is set at $25,000.00.
According to Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney Curtis T. Hill, Jr, “The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department acted swiftly and decisively upon learning of these accusations. I join with Sheriff Rogers in placing the highest priority on preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system.”
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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
