A Florida man pleaded not guilty Monday morning to charges of running over a ball goal by allegedly driving intoxicated and then assaulting a deputy jailer once he got to the Whitley County Detention Center.
Thursday afternoon, police charged John A. Stenger, 43, of Vero Beach, Fla., with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs, having a controlled substance not in its original container, first-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault, menacing, resisting arrest and two counts of first-degree disorderly conduct.
Whitley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jerry Noe arrested Stenger about 2:15 p.m. after he allegedly turned in the middle of Highway 92W and then failed a sobriety test, according to the arrest citation.
About 4:15 p.m., Stenger allegedly punched Deputy Jailer Charges Kersey in the left ear and then resisted while deputy jailers tried to restrain him, Kersey wrote on the arrest citation.
"You’ll be sorry because I am Jesus Christ and you will burn in …" Stenger told deputy jailers, according to his arrest citation.
District Judge Jason Price declined to lower Stenger’s $15,000 cash bond during his arraignment Monday.
Price appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Stenger and scheduled a Dec. 7 preliminary hearing.
