Johnson County coroner faces 14 misdemeanor charges

A Hancock County judge has been appointed in a criminal case against Johnson County coroner Michael Pruitt.

Hancock Superior Court 2 Judge Dan Marshall has been appointed judge.

Pruitt, 60, of Bargersville, was elected coroner in 2021. He was turned himself in under a no-bond warrant after county authorities requested Indiana State Police investigate Pruitt having purchased alcohol for a teenage girl and offering cannabis gummies.

14 misdemeanor criminal charges were filed in Johnson Superior Court 3. Several allegations involve Pruitt providing alcohol to the girl in Bargersville, at an Illinois hotel where both were for a 4H event, and at the Johnson County Fairgrounds.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office issued a response to questions of what appeared to be Pruitt’s release from the jail.

“We have had several inquiries as to Michael Pruitt's inmate status showing "Released" on our inmate data web page. He was not released. He has been transferred to the Brown County Jail for safety and security pending his first hearing. This is standard procedure for inmates where there members of the jail staff may be family or close acquaintances, to ensure complete transparency with regards to treatment and procedures,” said Chief Deputy Andrew Barnhart of Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

For now, Pruitt retains his coroner’s position. A coroner can only be removed by the governor or resign from the post. The only other was is a felony conviction but Pruitt doesn’t currently face any felony counts.