A pair of individuals already behind bars in the Parke County Jail found themselves in deeper trouble this week after committing sexual battery against another inmate.
According to Sheriff Jason Frazier, deputies were notified Wednesday by jail staff about a potential incident that resulted in an assault within the jail. Deputies investigated and determined an incident had taken place and charged Austin Schlee, 20, Rockville, and Jose Paniagua, 25, Kingman, of a Level 6 felony charge of sexual battery.
The two are being held on a $10,000 bond each in the new case.
According to court documents, Schlee was in jail for dealing methamphetamine after taking a plea deal in a 2025 case that dropped charges of possession of meth, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of marijuana. He was sentenced earlier this week to 2,920 days in the Department of Corrections, with credit for 175 days and 1,460 days suspended.
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