Former Roachdale Town Marshal sentenced to probation

A former Putnam County town marshal has learned his sentence following a jury finding him guilty in a theft case involving stolen police evidence. 

According to court documents, former Roachdale Town Marshal Tywaun Burks-White, 42, was sentenced this week to one year of probation. He will serve no prison time and was given eight days credit for time already served. 

Burks-White was arrested in February 2025 on charges of official misconduct and theft following an Indiana State Police investigation determined Burks was stealing from the Roachdale Police Department. 

The investigation revealed Burks-White had "deprived Roachdale Police of property" and had stolen items from an evidence room. While investigators stated Burks-White stole the items for personal gain, there was never any details on what was stolen or why.

According to court documents, Burks-White was employed by the Roachdale Police for about two months and was granted administrative access and provided keys to all departmental equipment, evidence and records. 

Court records state that shortly after Burks-White was hired, more individuals began hanging around the evidence and equipment room, and one person was seen allegedly tampering with department handguns. Another individual said they noticed a motorcycle helmet that was once seized as evidence in the back of a patrol vehicle Burks-White used. 

After Burks-White was terminated, another employee had to drive to his residence and obtain his department vehicle, and court documents state questions remained about four missing uniform badges, as well as more than 3,000 rounds of equipment.