Ripley County- On today’s date the Indiana State Police served an arrest warrant on Batesville City Mayor Richard C. Fledderman, 60, Batesville, charging him with one count of Patronizing a Prostitute, a class A Misdemeanor. A second individual, Randy Wigle-Stevens, 42, Indianapolis was also arrested and charged with one count of Failure to Disclose Dangerous Communicable Disease Status, a level 6 Felony, Prostitution, a class A Misdemeanor, and Intimidation, a class A Misdemeanor.
During the investigation conducted by Indiana State Police Detective Roger Drew, it was determined that in June of this year Fledderman paid Wigle-Stevens for sex acts. It was also determined that Wigle-Stevens failed to disclose his HIV status to Fledderman prior to engaging in the sex acts. The investigation also revealed that Wigle-Stevens threatened to go public with the encounter unless Fledderman paid him additional money.
The warrants were issued on today’s date by Ripley Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Sharp. The Ripley Superior Court will set initial hearings following the standard book-in process, fingerprinting, photographing, and posting of bail.
Arrested: Richard C. Fledderman, 60, Batesville, IN
1 Count-Patronizing a Prostitute, Class A Misdemeanor
Randy Wigle-Stevens, 42, Indianapolis, IN
1 Count-Failure to Disclose Dangerous
Communicable Disease Status-Level 6 Felony
1 Count-Prostitution-Class A Misdemeanor
1 Count-Intimidation-Class A Misdemeanor
The investigation was conducted by Det. Roger Drew with the assistance of the Ripley County Prosecutor’s Office.
The mug photographs of both suspects will be made available tomorrow morning. Please do not contact the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department to obtain the photographs.
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WHEELES
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
