LOCAL MAN FOUND GUILTY OF THEFT FROM FARMER

Jury found man guilty

Jefferson County, Indiana (June 10, 2022) – A Jefferson Superior Court jury convicted a local man of Level 6 felony theft in connection with a case involving a local farmer. Prosecutor David Sutter said Harve Hensley, 43, was found guilty at the conclusion of the jury trial Tuesday.

 “I appreciate the service of the jury. I am pleased with the outcome and am glad that the jury returned a guilty verdict,” said Prosecutor Sutter. “I want to thank Detective Charles Miller with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for his investigation and assistance at trial.”

 Hensley was charged with theft of $9,000 from a local farmer. In March 2021 Hensley told the farmer that he had sole rights to land located in Deputy, Indiana, and entered into a lease agreement with the farmer to farm the land. The farmer paid Hensley $9,000.

 The land in question had been deeded by a trust created by Bronson Hensley, Sr. to a local woman in 2019. At no time did Hensley ever have any legal right to act on behalf of the trust and he and no right to the property.

 Hensley went to great lengths to create a false impression that he had rights to the property including misrepresenting legal documents and representing himself as the trustee.

When the farmer showed up to the property, he discovered that it had already been planted. The true land owner informed the farmer that she had owned the property for at least 18 months and had already leased it to another farmer.

“I was pleased to get a conviction on behalf the farmer and the landowner involved in this case,” said Prosecutor Sutter. “Taking $9,000 and impacting the livelihood of a local farmer is something that we take seriously.”

 Hensley will remain in custody at the Jefferson County Jail pending a sentencing hearing that has been set for July 1 at 10:30 a.m.