BROWN COUNTY — Former Brown County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control Officer Bethany Heldman has been charged with a felony and two misdeanors for incidents involving animals.
Heldman was charged with a Level 6 Felony for official misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor for theft and a Class A misdemeanor for animal neglect.
Brown County Sheriff Brad Stogsdill said that Heldman was no longer an employee when the allegations were made.
“I just hate that this happened to people and I would like to think that we did all we could do,” Stogsdill said. “She was fired before this came out for internal issues in the department, but when we saw how serious the allegations were we turned it over to the Indiana State Police.”
According to police records, the events ocurred in November.
The Level 6 felony for official misconduct came from allegations that she took someone’s goat from their residence while on a dispatch call, according to court records. She told the homeowner Amanda Reeves that she did not see the goat and was out on a call for a loose dog in the area instead.
Heldman was charged with a Class A misdemeanor for theft of the goat, court records state. The goat was seen in Heldman’s yard by a neighbor who contacted Reeves with photos. Reeves was successfully able to retrieve her goat from Heldman’s residence.
Heldman was also charged with a Class A misdemeanor for animal neglect after she allegedly agreed to care for Brandi Ireland’s animals while Ireland was out of the state. Police reports indicate that Ireland has two dogs that require daily medication and care. Heldman allegedly told Ireland that she was with the animals but police records say she did not visit the residence to feed or care for the animals for three days.
Heldman’s initial hearing is scheduled for Brown County Circuit Court Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
