Bartholomew County: Monday, December 10 at approximately 5:15 p.m. Trooper Chris Lockman was dispatched to a report of a domestic disturbance in Jonesville. Dispatch told Tpr. Lockman the female half of the incident was in a field near the scene awaiting his arrival. The female, later identified as Charity R. Hiten, explained the situation to Tpr. Lockman and directed him to the residence located at 309 South Jackson St. in Jonesville where he could find her husband, 49 year old Kevin Hiten. When Tpr. Lockman arrived at the residence he made contact with Hiten to interview him about the domestic disturbance.
A few minutes later, Sergeant Jimmy Green of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department arrived on scene to back up Tpr. Lockman. A white 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche was parked in the driveway of the residence and Sgt. Green told Tpr. Lockman he believed on an earlier date Columbus Police Department had investigated a report of a stolen vehicle involving a white 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche. Tpr. Lockman ran the VIN on the Avalanche which came back as a stolen vehicle. Tpr. Lockman then asked Kevin Hiten about the vehicle and Hiten claimed to have purchased the vehicle a couple of months earlier and had the title in his house. Tpr. Lockman and Sgt. Green accompanied Hiten into the residence to obtain the title to the vehicle. Once inside the residence Tpr. Lockman observed what he believed to be marijuana, a scale, and pseudoephedrine packets on a desk. Hiten was then detained by the officers and a search warrant was obtained to search the entire residence. During the course of the search, officers discovered numerous firearms including a sawed off shotgun, marijuana, methamphetamine, thousands of pseudoephedrine pills, numerous methamphetamine precursors, numerous articles of drug paraphernalia, and a large amount of U.S. currency. Hiten was taken into custody and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was held on a preliminary charge of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, a Class D Felony. Yesterday numerous other charges were filed against Hiten in Bartholomew County. Today he’s facing the following additional charges:
Possession of Methamphetamine with a Firearm – Class C Felony
Possession of Controlled Substance with a Firearm – Class C Felony
Possession of over 10 grams of Pseudoephedrine with a Firearm – Class C Felony
Possession of Two or more Methamphetamine Precursors with a Firearm – Class C Felony
Possession of Marijuana – Class D Felony
Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Class D Felony
Possession of a Sawed off Shotgun – Class D Felony
Possession of a Stolen Vehicle – Class D Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
As this investigation continues, other charges could be filed. In addition to Sgt. Green, also assisting Tpr. Lockman with the investigation is Tpr. Matt Powell.
Persons arrested are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
