Former sheriff and chief deputy indicted by grand jury

A Grand Jury in Pulaski County indicted the former Pulaski County Sheriff and the former chief deputy on Tuesday.

Former Sheriff Michael L Gayer is facing two counts of theft, three counts of official misconduct, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of deception.

Former Chief Deputy Ronnie L. Patrick is facing five counts of theft, four counts of official misconduct, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of deception.

The charges are related to firearms missing from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department inventory and evidence storage, according to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office.

The items were not discovered missing until Sheriff Jeffrey Richwine took office and ordered an inventory, the prosecutor’s office said.
Gayer’s term as sheriff ended in 2014.

In August 2015, Richwine asked the Indiana State Police to investigate. When that investigation was complete, a special prosecutor was appointed.
The Marshall County Prosecutor recommended the evidence be reviewed by a Grand Jury.

The Grand Jury returned indictments on all counts against Patrick and Gayer.

Michael L Gayer faces the following counts (details of allegations gathered from grand jury indictment)

• Theft (Springfield XD handgun – January 1, 2015)
• Theft (Kel Tec PF9, 9 MM handgun or Kahr Model CW 45 handgun or Smith & Wesson handgun Model SD9VE – between November 2011 and December 2014)
• Obstruction of justice (Make or present false record regarding ownership of handgun – September 5, 2012)
• Deception (knowingly or intentionally misapply entrusted property - a Smith & Wesson 411 handgun – September 5, 2012)
• Official misconduct (theft )
• Official misconduct (deception)
• Official misconduct (obstruction of justice)

Ronnie L Patrick faces the following counts (details of allegations gathered from grand jury indictment)

• Theft (Glock 41 handgun – July 2014)
• Theft (Luger being held in sheriff’s department’s evidence storage – between February 2, 2004 and July 27, 2014 with theft discovered in September 2015 and item recovered in October 2015)
• Theft (ammunition can being held in evidence – between December 7, 2007 and July 29, 2008, with theft discovered in September 2015 and item recovered in October 2015)
• Theft (Sig Sauer Mosquito handgun – November 4, 2011)
• Theft (Smith & Wesson model 411 handgun – December 30, 2009)
• Obstruction of justice (ownership of handgun)
• Deception (misapply entrusted property – Smith & Wesson 411 handgun)
• Official misconduct (theft)
• Official misconduct (theft )
• Official misconduct (obstruction of justice)
• Official misconduct (Deception)

Gayer turned himself into the Pulaski County Jail on August 9, then posted bond.

On August 10, Patrick turned himself in to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department. He has since bonded out.