Criminal Prosecutions
The Wells County Prosecutor's Office is in charge of prosecuting violations of the penal code for the State of Indiana. Offenses that we prosecute range from murder to misdemeanor traffic matters. We do not prosecute county ordinance or city ordinance violations. With a staff of 4 prosecuting attorneys, we are active in the Wells Circuit Court, Wells Superior Court, and Bluffton City Court. We also serve as special prosecuting attorneys in neighboring counties. In the year 2005, the Wells County Prosecutor's Office handled 1,393 criminal matters and countless infractions. We also handled 1,176 child support collection cases.

Juveniles
When an offense is committed by a person less than 18 years of age, those offenses are filed as juvenile delinquency petitions and not as criminal actions. Juvenile delinquincy petitions can cover any offense from traditional crimes to school discipline and truancy matters. Referrals for juvenile actions are originally made to either law enforcement or the Probation Department before they are forwarded to our office for prosecution. In juvenile actions, our primary goal is to deter the offender from further delinquent behavior before said child becomes an adult.

"Bad Check" Collections
The Wells County Prosecutor's office runs a program in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies to collect "bad checks" for merchants and citizens. If someone has written you a "bad check" simply contact the law enforcement agency in your city or town (or the Sheriff if you are in the country) and advise them that you wish to pursue an "bad check". They will help you complete the necessary paperwork, and the matter will be referred to us. The resources of our office will assist in collecting your "bad check". Sorry, but we cannot pursue two-party checks and post-dated checks.

Drug Crime Prosecutions
The Wells County Prosecutor's office takes the war on drugs seriously. Prosecutor Lautzenheiser was the creator of the Citizens Against Drug Abuse in Wells County. Additionally, this Office is an active participant in ongoing drug sting operations aimed at stopping drugs at their source. Drug dealers are dealt with severely and almost always go to prison for their acts. In the past years, countless dealers have been arrested, convicted and taken off the streets and new efforts to curb drug traffic are already underway.

Child Abuse Team
The Child Abuse Team is a creation of the Wells County Prosecutor's Office that allows professionals from different disciplines to work together to investigate and prosecute child abuse and child molesting cases. A protocol has been established that partners the Prosecutor's Office with law enforcement, the Office of Family and Children, local medical personnel, local counselors, and the area schools to aid victims and their families in exposing child abuse and molesting. The program provides services to victims to lessen the trauma of the prosecution process. This joint effort has produced tremendous results and much success in prosecuting and preventing child abuse and child molesting.

Child Protection Team
The Wells County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is a founding member of the Child Protection Team. This organization brings together professionals from varying walks of life for the purpose of aiding children and families with problems, criminal and otherwise, that are impossible for them to handle alone.

Domestic Violence Task Force
The Wells County Prosecuting Attorney's office is an active member of the Domestic Violence Task Force. In this role, this Office has help to bring the problem of domestic violence to the attention of the public. This Office maintains a strict policy regarding domestic violence cases to insure that the intervention is achieved, services are made available for victims, and that perpetrators are required to be accountable for their acts of violence.

The purpose of the Victim Assistance Program is to be able to make contact with the victims of crimes. We also help in getting any restitution as a result of crime. We keep victims informed of the status of their cases if they are involved in the court system. We can refer victims to counseling or legal services they may need. All of the services are free and confidential. Our goal is to let crime victims know we are here to help them with the problems created by being victimized. Our office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. The direct telephone number is (260) 824-6558.

Victim's Rights
· You have the right to be informed and notified of court proceedings and to be present during these proceedings.

· You have the right to be informed of the status of the offender after the offender has been incarcerated.

· You have the right to know if the offender has escaped or is being released.

· You have the right to speak with a representative of the prosecutor's office after a crime has been charged, before the trial, and before any deposition.

These are just some of the rights of a victim. Please contact the office for a more detailed explanation of your rights as a victim.

Restitution
Restitution is compensation for loss as a result of a crime. A Restitution Claim Form is for use by the Prosecution Attorney's Office to prepare for the criminal case. An Order of Restitution may be made a part of a defendent's sentence, probation, or plea agreement.

Child Support Collection
Enforcement of an existing child support order and collection of past due child support owed to the custodial parent or owed to the State of Indiana through Aid for Dependent Children.

Paternity Establishment
Establishes paternity for minor children whose parents are not married to each other at the time of birth. Establishes a new child support order for the custodian of the child. We can arrange and require DNA testing to verify paternity.

Tax Intercept
This is used when an obligated parent owes past due child support of at least $500.00. Interception of Federal tax refunds (up to the amount of delinquent support owed) can be sent directly to the Child Support Bureau. The refund will first be used to pay any child support owed to the State, then for child support owed to the custodial parent. Please contact our office to sign up for the tax intercept program.

Hallway Program
Specific provision in an order that requires a non-custodial parent to report to the hallway everday that Court is in session between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm if he/she is not actively reporting to work in a full time capacity.

Modification of Support
Administrative review of the amount of child support. Before a support order may be modified in Indiana, it is necessary for a party to demonstrate a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that makes the present order unreasonable or that the amount of support previously ordered differs from the Guideline amount presently computed by more than 20%.

Wage Withholding Orders
A procedure which automatic deductions are made from wages or other income. The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCS) has issued a standard form, "The Order /Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support", to be used by Title IV-D agencies when issuing an administrative wage withholding order.

Qualifications
Granting a Pre-Trial Deferral Contract is always at the discretion of the Prosecutor. The following criteria must be met to be considered for the program:

· No more than four (4) current points on your license.

· No felony convictions.

· You cannot have been going thirty (30) miles per hour or more over the speed limit.

How It Works
The Infraction Deferral program is a step process:

· First we take down the necessary information to do the BMV check. This can be done in person or over the phone.

· When the BMV check comes back, the prosecutor must look it over and either approve or deny the application.

· If approved, your contract is sent to you in the mail along with an instruction letter. If denied, you will receive a letter informing you that you need to pay the fine. Be sure to read over the items in the contract before you sign.

· Before the appearance date on your ticket, you must sign the contract and send it to the court in which you were cited (Bluffton City Court and Wells Superior Court) along with a money order for $182.00 and a copy of your ticket. The fee of $182.00 is the flat fee for all Infraction Deferrals. You do NOT pay your ticket on top of this. The $182.00 is all you pay for the Infraction Deferral Program.

If all these things are done by the court date written on your ticket, you will be on the traffic Deferral Program.

· As long as you do not get another ticket in the 6 months following the file date of your contract, your ticket will be dismissed. The points will not appear on your license, record, or insurance.

If you get a ticket after the 6 month period is over, it will not affect your contract.

If you get a ticket within the 6 month period, you must pay the fine of the new ticket and the old one as well.

Click the news releases below to download the PDF version. Requires Adobe Acrobat.

· 2006 Annual Report of Criminal Activity Letter

Click the link below to see a list of Registered Sex Offenders in your area:

http://www.indianasheriffs.org/default.asp