Pulaski Commissioners to Consider EMS Requests, Veterans Service Officer Recommendation

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

The Pulaski County Commissioners will consider a few requests from the EMS Department tonight. EMS Director Brandon DeLorenzo is expected to ask for on-call rules to be added to the county’s policy manual. He’ll also ask for an increase in mileage fees and permission to buy fuel from Good Oil.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Updated on Veterans Service Officer Requirements

The expectations for Pulaski County’s next veterans service officer will be a little higher than originally thought. The county commissioners announced Monday that two people have applied for the open position. But Tom White, the northwest district officer for the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, says the state has a number of requirements that aren’t explicitly listed in the county’s job description.

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Court of Appeals Upholds Haut’s Sentence

Jack Haut

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction and sentence against Jack Haut.

Haut was found guilty by a jury of a Class C Felony charge of Reckless Homicide and was sentenced to eight years in prison. A jury found that Haut had driven his pickup truck on U.S. 35 north of Knox and into the path of a motorcycle driven by Tom White, who died from injuries in that accident. Haut claimed he had no recollection of that event and chemical tests proved that he had controlled substances in his body at the time of the accident. A police officer had testified during the trial that Haut appeared intoxicated at the scene.

The Court of Appeals noted in their decision that sufficient evidence supported his conviction and the court upheld the jury’s decision and the judge’s sentence.

Jack Haut Faces Sentencing Tomorrow for Reckless Homicide

Jack Haut

More than a year after the incident, Jack Haut is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow. On July 22, Haut was found guilty of Reckless Homicide, a Class C felony after his truck struck the motorcycle of Tom White on July 2, 2010, killing him in the crash. The crash occurred on U.S. 35.

In the state’s argument, Bourff said that Haut was driving recklessly, forcing drivers off the road, speeding, and driving in the opposite lane of traffic. After Haut passed two vehicles on U.S. 35, he pulled back into his normal lane of travel, but veered back to the opposite lane where he struck the motorcycle of Tom White. No brake lights were seen by witnesses, and there was no testimony that would indicate why Haut did not recall anything from the accident or afterward.

For the defense, they said that this was a tragic accident. Haut’s speed could not be determined by the state crash reconstructionist, and the coroner said that the injuries were consistent with highway speeds. They argued that the medication in Haut’s system, including Dilata, Oxycodone, and Xanax, were not abused, but were in fact within the therapeutic range prescribed by a physician. No alcohol was involved in the accident.

Haut will be sentenced tomorrow in the Starke Circuit Court at 11 a.m.

Jack Haut Found Guilty of Reckless Homicide

The second day of the trial of Jack Haut in Starke Circuit Court ultimately ended in a verdict for one count of Reckless Homicide, a Class C felony after his truck struck the motorcycle of Tom White, killing him. After a brief deliberation, the 12-person jury returned with a guilty verdict, and Haut’s sentencing is set for August 17th at 11:00 a.m.

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